IBBiologyHLExam QuestionsForm & FunctionMuscle & Motility

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First teaching 2023

First exams 2025

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Muscle & Motility (HL IB Biology)

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Muscle & Motility

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Muscle & Motility

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11 mark

The diagram shows the structures in a human elbow.11-2_q2e

Which numbers represent a pair of antagonistic muscles?

  • I and II

  • V and IV

  • VI and II

  • II and III

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2
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Which row correctly identifies the features of the myofibril shown in the diagram.11-2_q3e

  I. II. III. IV.
A Z-line Sarcomere A-band H-zone
B H-zone A-band Z-line I-band
C Sarcomere H-zone I-band Z-line
D Sarcomere I-band A-band Z-line

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    3
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    Which of the following are reasons for locomotion in animals?

    I. Foraging for food

    II. Escaping from danger

    III. Searching for a mate

    • I and II only

    • I and III only

    • I and III only

    • All of the above

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    4
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    Which of the following are examples of technology being used to analyse joint motion?

    I.
    Using a computer to analyse an image of a joint
    II.
    Using a goniometer to measure the angle of a joint
    III
    Using a phone app to measure joint angles

    • I and III only

    • II only

    • II and III only

    • I, II and III

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    11 mark

    Identify which answer gives the correct labels when describing how the skeleton can act as a lever.

    q1_11-2_movement_ib_biology_hl_mcq

      X Y Z
    A Fulcrum Effort Load
    B Effort Load Fulcrum
    C Fulcrum Load Effort
    D Load Fulcrum Effort

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      21 mark

      Which of the following is not a range of movement demonstrated by a synovial joint such as an elbow or knee joint?

      • Abduction

      • Flexion

      • Extension

      • Inversion

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      31 mark

      The diagram below shows the sarcomere of a muscle fibre.

      q4_11-2_movement_ib_biology_hl_mcq

      Which of the following statements correctly describes the events observed during a muscle contraction?

      • The length of the sarcomere stays the same, the dark band gets longer and the light bands stay the same

      • The length of the sarcomere gets shorter, the dark band gets shorter and the distance between the two Z lines gets shorter

      • The length of the sarcomere stays the same, the dark band gets longer and the distance between the two Z lines gets shorter

      • The length of the sarcomere gets shorter, the dark band stays the same and the light bands get shorter

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      41 mark

      One myosin powerstroke requires hydrolysis of one molecule of ATP and moves one actin filament 20 nm.

      How many ATP molecules would be required to move a single actin filament 0.3 µm when the sarcomere contracts?

      • 150 ATP

      • 15 ATP

      • 20 ATP

      • 1.5 ATP

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      51 mark

      Which of the following describes a function of ATP in muscle contraction?

      • To actively transport calcium ions into myofibrils from the sarcoplasmic reticulum

      • To move tropomyosin and expose myosin binding sites

      • To allow crossbridge formation

      • To cause cocking of the myosin head

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      61 mark

      Phosphocreatine is a chemical found in the muscles of vertebrates. It provides a store of phosphate ions used during muscle contraction. The graph shows the effect of phosphocreatine production on the force of muscle contraction in mice.q8_11-2_movement_ib_biology_hl_mcq

      Which of the following best explains the results shown in the graph?

      • Mice that can produce phosphocreatine can run faster.

      • Phosphate ions can be combined with ADP to make ATP for contraction.

      • Phosphate ions initiate the formation of crossbridges.

      • Phosphate ions inhibit muscle contraction by creating an electrochemical gradient.

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      71 mark

      Identify the correct label from the electron micrograph which correctly represents the transverse section of muscle fibre shown.q10_11-2_movement_ib_biology_hl_mcq

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        1
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        Rigor mortis describes the stiffening of body muscles due to chemical change in myofibrils after death. Knowledge of the stages of rigor mortis allows pathologists to estimate the time of death accurately.

        Algor mortis refers to the gradual decrease in the body's temperature after death.

        The graph shows the onset of Rigor mortis and Algor mortis after death.11-2_q5h

        Which of the following options shows a valid explanation for the trends shown in the graph?

          Trend Explanation
        A Body temperature decreases from 0 to 36 hours after death Calcium is not replenished due to lack of ATP
        B Rigor mortis peaks at 12 hours after death ATP is no longer available to break actin-myosin cross bridges
        C Body temperature increases slightly 36 hours after death Energy is released from hydrolysis of the remaining ATP
        D Rigor mortis increases gradually after death ATP becomes depleted so muscles cannot remain relaxed.

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