Syllabus Edition

First teaching 2014

Last exams 2024

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Movement (DP IB Biology: HL)

Exam Questions

3 hours35 questions
1a
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1 mark

State the word which is used to describe a pair of muscles that act against each other to perform opposite actions. 

1b
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3 marks

Classify the following alphabetical list of organisms into their skeleton type in the table below. 

  1. Amphibians
  2. Arachnids
  3. Birds
  4. Centipedes
  5. Crustaceans
  6. Fish
  7. Insects
  8. Mammals
  9. Molluscs
  10. Reptiles
Internal Skeletons Exoskeletons
   
   
   
   
   

1c
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2 marks

The diagram shows a myofibril strand in a relaxed muscle fibre.

pIkDKyXI_zsoxy3ce_myofibril-labelled---sq

Describe the effect of muscle fibre contraction on the length of the A-band and the sarcomere.

1d
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2 marks

Explain the presence of a large number of mitochondria in the sarcoplasm of a muscle fibre. 

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2a
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2 marks

The smallest unit of organisation in most tissues is the cell. However, the term 'muscle fibre' is used to describe the smallest unit of skeletal muscle. 

Explain why. 

2b
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1 mark

Name the bundles of actin and myosin fibres.

2c
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2 marks
 

-GznrtSl_muscle-sorting-words---sq

Place the four words above into descending order of size in the table below:

Largest  
↓  
↓  
Smallest  

2d
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1 mark

Define the term, sarcolemma.

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3a
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2 marks

Myosin is a protein that has two different kinds of protein structure, fibrous and globular, in its molecule.

State where these two types of structure are found within the myosin molecule. 

3b
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2 marks

Explain how actin filaments are formed.  

3c
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3 marks

Complete the table to identify the molecules that carry out the following functions of muscular contraction. 

Name of Molecule Function
  Hydrolyses ATP
  Covers the binding site on the actin filament (when the muscle is relaxed)
  Required for recocking of the myosin head

3d
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2 marks

State the role of calcium ions during muscle contraction. 

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4a
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2 marks

The power stroke of muscle contraction is a short, sharp movement as a myosin head flexes and slides over an actin filament. 

Suggest why a muscle movement is a smooth process, rather than a series of short, jerky movements as this model might indicate. 

4b
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2 marks

Identify the two successive events that cause a contracting muscle to stop contracting when the motor neurone stops sending impulses to the muscle fibre. 

4c
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5 marks

Identify parts A - E on the diagram of a sarcomere below. 

13eRSoha_sarcomere-to-label---sq

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5a
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8 marks

One mark is available for clarity of communication throughout this question.

Whilst making a school poster of the human elbow, a student dropped his annotation cards. He gathered them up and randomly allocated an annotation to each part of the elbow but many got mixed up, as shown in the table below. 

Part of the elbow Annotation
Humerus Anchorage point for biceps
Triceps Lubricates the joint between cartilage and bone ends
Cartilage Shock-absorbing tissue that reduces friction in the joint
Synovial fluid Extends the joint
Biceps Surrounds the joint and holds in synovial fluid 
Radius Flexes the joint
Ulna Anchorage point for biceps and triceps
Joint Capsule Anchorage point for triceps


Re-sort the annotations to match the correct parts of the elbow joint below. 

Part of the elbow Mixed-up Annotation Correct Annotation
Humerus Anchorage point for biceps  
Triceps Lubricates the joint between cartilage and bone ends  
Cartilage Shock-absorbing tissue that reduces friction in the joint  
Synovial fluid Extends the joint  
Biceps Surrounds the joint and holds in synovial fluid   
Radius Flexes the joint  
Ulna Anchorage point for biceps and triceps  
Joint Capsule Anchorage point for triceps  

5b
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3 marks

Explain the advantages of using an electron microscope to analyse muscle tissue. 

5c
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4 marks

Distinguish between the following pairs of terms about joint movement:

  • Abduction and adduction
  • Flexion and extension

You may use examples to clarify your answers. 

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1a3 marks

Compare and contrast bones and exoskeletons.

1b2 marks

The image below shows two muscles in the leg of a jumping insect.q1a_11-2_movement_medium_ib_hl_biology_sq

Describe the roles of muscles a and b in altering the insect’s leg position.

1c3 marks

Explain how this would be different for the equivalent muscles in the arm of a human.

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2a3 marks

The image below shows an electron micrograph cross section through a skeletal muscle.q2a_11-2_movement_medium_ib_hl_biology_sq

 Identify structures A-C labelled in the image above.

2b2 marks

The structures labelled E in the image in part a) are called myofibrils.

Describe the structure of a myofibril.

2c2 marks

The structure labelled C in the image in part a) is 30 mm long when relaxed, but only 22.5 mm long when contracted.

Calculate the percentage decrease in length of the contracted structure C.

2d2 marks

Suggest two reasons why it may be beneficial to study skeletal muscle fibres using an electron microscope rather than an optical microscope.

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3a3 marks

The image below is a transmission electron micrograph of a longitudinal section of skeletal muscle.q3a_11-2_movement_medium_ib_hl_biology_sq

 Identify structures X, Y and Z.

3b1 mark

Identify the molecules present in the regions labelled 1 and 2 in the image in part a).

3c3 marks

During intense exercise the pH of skeletal muscle tissue falls sharply, causing alterations in the 3D structure of some calcium receptors within muscle fibres and lowering their contractile ability.

Use the information provided and your own knowledge to explain the reduced contractile ability of muscle fibres that results from intense exercise.

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4a3 marks

The table below describes three molecules involved with muscle contraction.

Identify molecules A-C below.

Description Molecule
Attaches to M line at the centre of the sarcomere A
Hydrolysis of this molecule is required for the recovery stroke B
Ion that diffuses across the sarcolemma C
4b2 marks

Outline how the filaments within muscle fibres slide past each other in the sliding filament mechanism of muscle contraction.

4c2 marks

A recent discovery has shown that a third protein filament, known as titin, is also present in muscle fibres. The role played by titin is still being investigated, but one study looked at the effects of removing titin from the muscles of mice.

To remove the titin protein the mice had their muscles modified so that their titin filaments contained a cutting site for a plant enzyme called TEV protease. This meant that the scientists could use TEV protease to cut the titin proteins.

Suggest why the plant enzyme TEV protease was used rather than an animal protease.

4d1 mark

The image below shows the location of titin within the sarcomere, as well as some of the results gained from the study described in part c) above.

q4d_11-2_movement_medium_ib_hl_biology_sq

Use the image and your existing knowledge to suggest a possible function of titin filaments.

 

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5a5 marks

One mark is available for clarity of communication throughout this question.

Draw a labelled diagram of a sarcomere.

5b7 marks

Describe the mechanism of muscle contraction from the point at which myosin binds to actin.

5c3 marks

Explain how fluorescent dye can be used to show the role of ATP in muscle contraction.

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1a
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5 marks

Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a dangerous condition during which a patient’s skeletal muscles become contracted and rigid. It is caused by a mutation in the gene that codes for intracellular calcium channels. MH is difficult to diagnose until it is triggered by the administration of an anaesthetic.

Suggest how the anaesthetic combined with the MH mutation could lead to contracted skeletal muscles in a patient. 

1b
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3 marks

The graph shows some of the physiological effects that take place after the administration of an anaesthetic to a patient who is MH susceptible. End Tidal Carbon Dioxide refers to the amount of carbon dioxide released during an exhaled breath.

anaesthetic-and-mh-graph---sq1

Use your knowledge of the events taking place inside a contracting skeletal muscle to explain the effects on the graph between 0 and 150 minutes after the administration of an anaesthetic. 

1c
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2 marks

MH is a very dangerous condition that can be fatal if not treated quickly.

Use the information provided and your own knowledge to explain why MH can be fatal.

1d
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2 marks

At point X on the graph in part a), a life-saving drug called dantrolene was administered.

Suggest how dantrolene might counteract the effects of the anaesthetic.

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2a
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4 marks

The diagram shows a cross section through a skeletal muscle. 

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Identify the structures labelled A - D in this diagram. 

2b
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3 marks

The structures labelled E in the diagram in part a) above are called myofibrils. When myofibrils are viewed in longitudinal section they have a striped, or striated, appearance and are made up of many sarcomeres. Two sarcomeres are shown in the diagram below.

AMM~6TbY_3

The myofibril is 4.5cm in length when it is relaxed, while a contracted sarcomere measures 1.9μm. 

Use the scale on the diagram above to calculate the length of a contracted myofibril (the image measurements are provided for you).

State your answer in mm.

2c
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2 marks

The striated pattern visible on the sarcomeres is due to the presence of two types of filament within the myofibril. These filaments are known to be involved with muscle contraction, but a relatively recent discovery has shown that a third protein filament known as titin, is also present. The role played by titin is still being investigated, but one study was carried out in mice that looked at the effects of removing titin from their muscles.

To remove the titin protein, the mice had their muscles modified so that their titin filaments contained a cutting site for a plant enzyme called TEV protease.

Suggest why the plant enzyme TEV was used rather than an animal protease.

2d
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3 marks

The diagram below shows the location of titin within the sarcomere, as well as some of the results gained from the study described in part c) above.

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Use information from the diagram and your existing knowledge to suggest 3 possible functions of titin filaments.

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3a
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2 marks

Flexion of the elbow involves contraction of the biceps to bring the hand upwards when performing a manual action, for example when scratching the nose. 

Aside from the role played by the triceps in extending the arm afterwards, suggest two advantages to having the system of an antagonistic pair of muscles in arm movement. 

3b
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2 marks

The image below shows some of the muscles in the human lower leg. 

0EMK7~KB_leg-muscles-2---sq

Use the diagram and your knowledge of antagonistic pairs to identify the muscles involved in the following motions:

Dorsiflexion - moving the toes upwards towards the shin

Plantar flexion - moving the toes away from the shin eg. when standing on tiptoe

3c
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4 marks

A technique called electromyography uses electrodes placed onto the skin close to major skeletal muscles. The electrodes measure electrical activity in those muscles and in their surrounding nervous connections. 

The diagram below is an electromyograph trace combined from electrodes placed on a person's left and right gastrocnemius muscles (see diagram in part b for the location of that muscle) taken while the person was walking at an even pace. 

YmFqmZv-_electromyograph---sq

Assuming a mean stride length of 75cm, calculate the person's walking speed.

State your answer in kilometres per hour / kmh-1.

3d
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2 marks

For the person walking in part c) above, state, with a reason, the stage of the respiratory pathway that would be supplying most of the ATP required for muscular contraction of the leg muscles. 

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4a
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3 marks

Explain why tendons need to be inelastic. 

4b
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2 marks

Synovial fluid plays an important role in musculoskeletal movement.

One feature of synovial fluid is that it is classed as a non-Newtonian fluid. This means that it changes its viscosity according to the surrounding conditions.  

Suggest and explain one function of a joint that is aided by synovial fluid being a non-Newtonian fluid. 

4c
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3 marks

Osteoarthritis is a common condition of the joints in which cartilage becomes thinned and eventually wears away. 

Suggest two symptoms of osteoarthritis and a possible remedy.

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5a
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6 marks

One mark is available for clarity of communication throughout this question.

Describe the sequence of musculoskeletal events that lead to a grasshopper jumping to catch its prey. 

Do not go into the molecular detail of the events; limit your answer to events at an organ-by-organ level. 

5b
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4 marks

Describe the events that lead up to the formation of actin/myosin cross-bridges during muscle contraction. 

5c
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5 marks

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe genetic disorder that affects boys and young men. It is an inherited, X-linked condition that causes progressive loss of muscle tissue, and most often causes death by asphyxiation as important breathing muscles (eg. the diaphragm) lose their function. 

A mutation in the gene for a protein called dystrophin. A lack of dystrophin causes excess calcium ions to leak from the sarcolemma. 

Associated changes to the ion balance within the sarcoplasm also cause water to enter mitochondria by osmosis.

Suggest how these descriptions of events with DMD cause a loss of muscular function. 

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