Chapter 8 - The Circulatory System

A. MULTIPLE CHOICE TYPE

(Choose the best option out of the four alternatives a, b, c and d)

1. Agranulocytes are:
(a) lymphocytes and monocytes
(b) lymphocytes and basophils
(c) eosinophils and basophils
(d) eosinophils and monocytes

Solution:
(a) lymphocytes and monocytes

2. White blood cells engulf bacteria in a process called:

(a) diapedesis (b) phagocytosis
(c) active transport (d) passive transport

Solution:
(b) phagocytosis

3. The nearest organ to which the heart supplies oxygenated blood

is
(a) Lung (b) Stomach
(c) Intestine (d) Heart itself

Solution:
(d) Heart itself

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4. When a doctor is recording your pulse, he is pressing on your
wrist exactly on a
(a) vein (b) capillary
(c) artery (d) arteriole

Solution:
(c) artery

5. The blood vessels supplying blood to the kidney is

(a) renal vein (b) renal artery
(c) dorsal aorta (d) hepatic vein

Solution:
(b) renal artery

6. Angina Pectoris is due to

(a) defective nutrition
(b) chest pain due to an inadequate supply of oxygen to the heart
muscle
(c) defective functioning of mitral valve
(d) infection by a virus

Solution:
(b) chest pain due to an inadequate supply of oxygen to the heart
muscle

7. The chief function of lymph nodes is to

(a) produce WBCs
(b) produce hormones
(c) destroy old RBCs
(d) destroy pathogens

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Solution:
(d) destroy pathogens

8. Heart sounds are produced due to

(a) closure of tricuspid and bicuspid valves
(b) rushing of blood through valves producing turbulence
(c) closure of atrioventricular and semilunar valves
(d) entry of blood into auricles

Solution:
(a) closure of tricuspid and bicuspid valves
(b) rushing of blood through valves producing turbulence
(c) closure of atrioventricular and semilunar valves

B. SHORT ANSWER TYPE

1. Given below are certain structures, write their chief functional
activity.
(a) Blood platelets ------
(b) Neutrophils -----
(c) Erythrocytes -----
(d) Lymphocytes -----
(e) Bone marrow -----

Solution:
(a) Blood platelets and blood coagulation
(b) Neutrophils and phagocytosis
(c) Erythrocytes and transportation of gases
(d) Lymphocytes and Produce antibodies
(e) Bone marrow and destruction of old and weak RBC's/production
of RBCs and WBCs.

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2. Name the following:
(a) The cells which transport oxygen to the different parts of the
human body.
(b) The cells that initiate blood clotting.

Solution:
(a) Red Blood Cells
(b) Blood Platelets

3. Name the following:

(a) Any one vein which starts from an organ and ends in another
organ besides the heart.
(b) The kind of blood vessels which have no muscular walls.
(c) Any artery which carries impure (deoxygenated) blood.
(d) The kind of blood cells which can squeeze out through the walls
of one category of blood vessels.
(e) The smallest common blood vessels formed by the union of
capillaries.
(f) The category of blood vessels which start from capillaries and
end in capillaries.
(g) The phase of the cardiac cycle in which the auricles contract.
(h) The valve present in between the chambers on the right side of
the human heart.
(i) The phase of the cardiac cycle in which the ventricles get filled
with blood from the atrium.
(j) The fluid found between the membranes of the heart.

Solution:
(a) Hepatic portal vein
(b) Blood Capillaries
(c) Pulmonary artery
(d) White blood cells
(e) Venules

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(f) Portal vein
(g) Atrial systole
(h) Tricuspid valve
(i) Atrial systole
(j) Pericardial fluid

4. Complete the following statements by filling in the blanks from

the choices given in the brackets.
(a) The blood vessel that begins and ends in capillaries is
the______. (hepatic artery, hepatic portal vein, hepatic vein)

(b) A blood vessel which has small lumen and thick wall is _______.
(capillary, lymphatic duct, artery, venule)

(c) The valve which prevents the back flow of blood in the veins and
lymph vessels ______.(mitral valve, tricuspid valve, semilunar
valve)
(d) An anticoagulant present in the blood is _______.(heparin,
hirudin, thromboplastin, calcium)

Solution:
(a) The blood vessel that begins and ends in capillaries is the hepatic
portal vein.

(b) A blood vessel which has small lumen and thick wall is artery.

(c) The valve which prevents the back flow of blood in the veins and
lymph vessels is semilunar valve.
(d) An anticoagulant present in the blood is heparin.

5. Note the relationship between the first two words and suggest
the suitable word/words for the fourth place:

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(a) Lubb: Atrio-ventricular valve:: Dup:_______

(b) Coronary artery: Heart::Hepatic artery:______

Solution:
(a) Lubb: Atrio-ventricular valve:: Dup: Semilunar valves
(b) Coronary artery: Heart::Hepatic artery: Liver

6. Given reason, why a matured mammalian erythrocyte lacks

nucleus and mitochondria?

Solution:
A matured mammalian erythrocyte lacks a nucleus and
mitochondria. The lack of a nucleus increases the surface area-
volume ratio of RBCs, thus increasing the area for oxygen absorption.
Also, the lack of a nucleus reduces the size of the cell, making it easy
to flow through the blood vessels and more cells can be
accommodated in a small area.
The lack of mitochondria implies that the cell does not use any
oxygen absorbed for respiration, thus increasing the efficiency of the
cell to transport oxygen as all the oxygen absorbed is transported
without any loss.

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C. SHORT ANSWER TYPE
1. Enumerate the structural differences between white blood cells
and red blood cells.
Solution:
Structural Differences between White Blood Cells and Red Blood Cells:
White Blood Cells Red Blood Cells
Red blood cells are minute
1. White blood cells are amoeboid.
biconcave disc-like structures.
2. They are nucleated cells. They anucleated cells.
3. Haemoglobin is absent in red Haemoglobin is present in red
blood cells. blood cells.

2. Why is it necessary to know the blood groups before giving

transfusion?

Solution:
During blood transfusion it is necessary to know the blood groups
before transfusion because it is important that the blood groups of the
donor and the recipient are compatible. In case of an incompatible
blood transfusion, the recipient develops antibodies that attack the
antigens present on the RBCs of the donor causing the blood cells to
clump together which may result in death.

3. Differentiate between members of each of the following pairs

with reference to phrases in brackets:

(a) Antibodies and Antibiotics (Source)

(b) RBC and WBC (Structure)

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(c) Serum and Vaccine (Composition)
(d) Erythrocytes and leucocytes (function)
(e) Artery and vein (direction of blood flow)

(f) Artery and vein (type of blood primarily flowing through)

(g) Tricuspid and bicuspid valves (location)

Solution:
(a) Differences between antibodies and antibiotics based on their
source:
Antibodies Antibiotics
They are produced by lymphocytes They are the medicines extracted
in response to the entry of from some bacteria and fungi.
pathogens in the bloodstream. Antibiotics destroy or inhibit the
growth of pathogens.
(b) Differences between RBC and WBC based on their structure:
RBC WBC
It is enucleated, biconcave, disc-like It is nucleated and amoeboid in
structure, flat in the centre while shape.
thick and rounded at the
periphery.
(c) Differences between serum and vaccine based on their
composition:
Serum Vaccine
The plasma from which the protein Vaccine is killed or living weakened
fibrinogen has been removed is germs which are introduced in the
called serum. body to stimulate the production of

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 antibodies against pathogens for a
particular disease.

(d) Differences between erythrocytes and leucocytes based on their

function:
Erythrocytes Leucocytes
They function in the transport of They help in the defense of the body
oxygen throughout the body and in against disease-causing pathogens.
the removal of carbon dioxide from
the body.
(e) Differences between artery and vein based on the direction of
blood flow:
Artery Vein
It carries blood away from the It brings blood towards the heart.
heart.
(f) Differences between artery and vein based on the type of blood
primarily flowing through them:
Artery Vein
It generally contains oxygenated It generally carries deoxygenated
blood. blood.
(g) Differences between tricuspid valve and bicuspid valve based on
their location:
Tricuspid valve Bicuspid valve

It is located between the right It is located between the left atrium

atrium and right ventricle of the and left ventricle of the heart.
heart.

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4. What does the term double circulation mean?

Solution:
Blood flows twice in the heart before it completes one full round.
The full round thus includes pulmonary and systemic circulation. In
pulmonary circulation, blood enters the lungs through pulmonary
arteries. Pulmonary veins collect the blood from the lungs and carry
it back to the left atrium.

In systemic circulation, blood from the left ventricle enters the aorta
through which the blood is sent to the body parts. From the body
parts blood is collected by veins and sent back to the heart.
Therefore, the blood circulation in the human body is called double
circulation.

5. When are the sounds "LUBB" and "DUP" produced respectively

during heart beat?

Solution:
The first sound LUBB is produced when the atrio-ventricular valves i.e.
tricuspid and bicuspid valves close at the start of ventricular systole.

The second sound DUP is produced at the beginning of ventricular

diastole, when the pulmonary and aortic semilunar valves close.

6. Why do people have a common belief that the heart is located on

the left side of the chest?

Solution:
People have a common belief that the heart is located on the left side
of the chest because the narrow end of the roughly triangular heart is

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pointed to the left side and during its working the contraction of the
heart is more powerful on the left side which can be felt.

7. Match the items in column A with those in column B. Rewrite the

correct matching pair.

Column A Column B
(a) SA node Plasma
(b) Defective haemoglobin in RBC Serum
(c) Muscle fibres located in the heart Pacemaker
(d) The liquid squeezed out of blood Sickle cell anemia
during clotting
(e) Never tires, keep on contracting and Purkinje fibres
relaxing
(f) Cardiac cycle Cardiac muscles
(g) Liquid part of the blood without 0.85 sec
corpuscles

Solution:
Column A Column B

(a) SA node Pacemaker

(b) Defective hemoglobin in RBC Sickle cell anemia

(c) Muscle fibres located in the Purkinje fibres

heart

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(d) The liquid squeezed out of Serum
blood during clotting
(e) Never tires, keep on Cardiac muscles
contracting and relaxing
(f) Cardiac cycle 0.85 sec

(g) Liquid part of the blood Plasma

without corpuscles

8. The table below is designed to indicate the transport of certain

substances in our body. Fill in the blanks with suitable answers.

Substance From To
1. ----- Lungs Whole body
2. Carbon dioxide ----- -----
3. Urea ----- -----
4. Digested carbohydrates Intestines -----
5. ----- ----- Target organs

Solution:
Substance From To
1. Oxygen Lungs Whole body
2. Carbon dioxide Whole body Lungs

3. Urea Whole body Kidneys

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4. Digested Intestine Whole body
carbohydrates
5. Hormones Endocrine glands Target organs

D. LONG ANSWER TYPE

1. What are the functions of blood plasma?

Solution:
The functions of blood plasma are:
(i) Distributes heat in the body to maintain body temperature.
(ii) Distributes hormones from the glands to their target site.
(iii) Transports of digested food from the alimentary canal to tissues.
(iv) Transports excretory materials from tissues to excretory organs.

2. Write the main steps in coagulation of blood in their correct

sequence?

Solution:
Blood clotting or coagulation occurs in a series of the following steps:

(a) The injured tissue cells and the platelets disintegrate at the site of
wound to release thromboplastin.

(b) The thromboplastin with the help of calcium ions converts

inactive prothrombin into active thrombin.

(c) Thrombin in the presence of calcium ions converts soluble

fibrinogen into insoluble fibrin which forms a mesh or network at the
site of wound.

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(d) The blood cells trapped in this network shrink and squeeze out
the plasma to leave behind a solid mass known as the clot.

3. What are the following?

(a) Rh factor
(b) Universal donor
(c) Diapedesis

Solution:
(a) Rh factor - It is an inherited antigen often found on the blood cells.
Some individuals have these antigens and are thus Rh positive (Rh+)
while others who do not have this antigen are Rh negative (Rh-).

(b) Universal donor - The person with blood group O is a universal

donor as this type of blood can be given to persons with any blood
group i.e. O, A, B, AB.

(c) Diapedesis - It is the squeezing of leucocytes through the wall of

capillaries into the tissues.

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4. Is it possible for the blood to clot under the skin? Give reason in
support your answer.

Solution:
It is a wrong notion that clotting is dependent on the exposure of
blood to the air. In fact, clotting can be caused by the movement of
blood over a rough surface as on cholesterol deposit on the inside of
a blood vessel.

5. State any five functions of the blood.

Solution:
The main functions of the blood in our body can be treated under two
broad headings (A) Transport and (B) Protection.
1. Transport of digested food from the alimentary canal to the tissues.
2. Transport of oxygen from the lungs to the tissues. It occurs by
means of red blood cells in combination with haemoglobin in the form
of unstable compound oxyhaemoglobin, which on reaching the tissues
breaks up to deliver oxygen.
3. Transport of carbon dioxide from the tissues to the lungs.
4. Transport of excretory material from the tissues to the liver, kidney
or the skin for elimination or to render them harmless.
5. Distribution of hormones secreted by special glands directly into the
blood.

6. Explain the following terms:

(a) Endothelium

Solution:
It is the innermost layer of the muscular wall of an artery or a vein
which faces the lumen.

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(b) Lymph nodes

Solution:
The structures from which fresh lymph channels arise which pour the
lymph into major anterior veins.

(c) Venule

Solution:
The capillaries gradually reunite and increase in size assuming the
same three layers as in arteries and vein. The smallest united common
branch is called a venule.

(d) Diastole

Solution:
Diastole is the relaxation of muscles of ventricles.

7. Give the structural difference between an artery and a vein.

Solution:

Arteries Veins

1. Progressively branched, 1. Progressively unite increasing in size.

decreasing in size.

2. Smallest artery breaks 2. Smallest vein arises from venules.

into arterioles.

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 3. Have thick and more 3. Have thin and less muscular walls.
muscular walls.

4. Walls are elastic. 4. Walls are non-elastic.

5. Have narrower lumen. 5. Have a wider lumen.

6. Have no values in their 6. Have valves in their inner lining to

inner lining. prevent the backward flow of blood.

8. What are the functions of tonsils and spleen?

Solution:
The function spleen is,
1. It acts as a blood reservoir.
2. It produces lymphocytes.
3. It destroys worn-out red blood cells.
4. In an embryo, spleen produces RBCs.
Tonsils are lymph glands located on the sides of the neck.
The function of tonsils tends to localize the infection and prevent it
from spreading it in the body as a whole.

9. How do you account for the following differences?

(a) The left ventricle has thicker walls than the right ventricle.

Solution:
The left ventricle has thicker walls than the right ventricle because,
the left ventricle pumps blood up to the farthest points in the body,

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such as, up to the toes in the feet or up to the brain against gravity.
But right ventricle pumps blood only up to the lungs for oxygenation.

(b) The walls of the right ventricle are thicker than those of the right
auricle.

Solution:
The walls of the right ventricle are thicker than those of the right
auricle because the right ventricle pumps blood up to the lungs for
oxygenation. But auricles major function is to receive blood from the
body and pump it into the very next ventricles.

10. Give reason for the following:

(a) The walls of the left ventricle are thicker than the walls of all the
chambers.

Solution:
The left ventricle has thicker walls than the walls of all the chambers
because, the left ventricle pumps blood up to the farthest points in
the body, such as, up to the toes in the feet or up to the brain against
gravity.

(b) Blood flowing away from the stomach and intestines is put into
circulation via the liver and not directly.

Solution:
The veins starting from the stomach and intestine do not directly
convey the blood to the posterior vena cava. Instead, they first enter
the liver as a combined hepatic portal vein breaks up into capillaries
in contrast to the general characteristics of a vein and a new vein
called hepatic vein.

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(c) The blood groups of both the donor and recipient must be known
before transfusing blood.

Solution:
Sometimes it becomes necessary to inject blood into the body of
patients undergoing a surgical operation. This is called a blood-
transfusion. Blood taken from a healthy person (donor) is introduced
through one of the patient’s veins. But for doing so, it is necessary that
the kind or the type of blood to be transfused should match with the
type of the blood of the receiving person (recipient).
RBC’s of human being have specific proteins on their surface. These
proteins are called antigens. The plasma of the blood has its
complementary antibodies.

(d) Only the veins and not the arteries are provided with valves.
Solution:
Only the veins and not the arteries are provided with valves because
Veins carry blood away from an organ and towards the heart and have
valves in their inner lining to prevent the backward flow of blood. But
arteries carry blood away from the heart and into an organ have no
valves in their inner lining.

(e) Atrial wall is less muscular than the ventricular wall.

Solution:
Atrial wall is less muscular than the ventricular wall because, the
ventricle pumps blood up to the lungs for oxygenation and ventricle
pumps blood up to the farthest points in the body, such as, up to the
toes in the feet or up to the brain against gravity. But atrial major
function is to receive blood from the body and pump it into the very
next ventricles.

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(f) The arteries are deep seated in the body.
Solution:
Arteries carry oxygenated blood away from the heart to the tissues.
The blood flows in the artery under high pressure and in spurts. If
arteries are located superficially then there is a high possibility of their
damage which could lead to a lot of blood loss. To prevent this damage
and blood loss, the arteries are deep-seated in the body.

11. What is meant by the term ‘double circulation’ of blood in

mammals? What is diastole?

Solution:
Blood flows twice in the heart before it completes one full round the
short pulmonary circulation and the long systemic circulation. For this
reason, the blood circulation in the human body is called double
circulation.
Diastole is a phase in the cardiac cycle, during which the heart relaxes
and allows blood to refill each atrium and each ventricle.

D. STRUCTURED/APPLICATION/SKILL
1. Given below is a diagram of a smear of human blood. Study the
same and answer the questions that follow:
(a) Name the parts 1, 2, 3 and 4 indicated by guidelines.
(b) Mention two structural differences between the parts labeled 1
and 2.
(c) What is the main function of the parts labeled 1, 2 and 3
respectively?
(d) What is the life span of the part labeled "1"?
(e) Name a soluble protein found in "4" which helps in clotting of
blood.

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Solution:
(a) 1 → Red Blood Cell (RBC),
2 → White Blood Cell (WBC),
3 → Blood Platelet
4 → Blood Plasma.

(b) The red blood cells are minute biconcave disc-like structures
whereas the white blood cells are amoeboid.

(c) Function of part 1 (RBC): Transport of respiratory gases to the

tissues and from the tissues, transport of nutrients from the
alimentary canal to the tissues.

Function of part 2 (WBC): WBCs play major role in defense

mechanism and immunity of the body.

Function of part 3 (Blood Platelet): Blood platelets are the initiator

of blood clotting.

(d) The average life span of a red blood cell (RBC) is about 120 days.

(e) Thromboplastin

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2. Given below is a highly schematic diagram of the human blood
circulatory system.
(a) Which part (state the number) represents the heart? Give
reason in support of your answer.
(b) Which numbers represent the following respectively?

Aorta

Hepatic portal vein

Pulmonary artery

Superior vena cava

Renal vein

Stomach

Solution:
(a) The structure 3 represents the heart. It forms the centre of
double circulation and is located between the liver and the
head (as per the diagram). Also the blood circulation (indicated
by 1) begins from heart to lungs.

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 (b)
Aorta 5
Hepatic portal vein 7
Pulmonary artery 1
Superior vena cava 9
Renal vein 8
Stomach 10

3. The diagram below shows part of the capillary bed in an organ of

the human body. Some of the blood arriving at the capillaries at
points labeled A, moves out into the spaces between the tissue
cells. Study the diagram and answer the questions that follow:

(a) When the liquid from the blood surrounds the cells, what is it
called?

(b) Name any one important component of the blood which

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remains inside the capillaries and fails to move out into the spaces.

(c) Some of the liquid surrounding the cells does not pass directly
back into the blood but eventually reaches it by another route
through vessel X. name the fluid present in vessel X.

(d) State two important functions performed in our body by the

fluid present in vessel X.

Solution:
(a) Tissue Fluid
(b) Red blood cells
(c) Lymph
(d) The lymph supplies nutrition and oxygen to those parts where
blood cannot reach. The lymph drains away excess tissue fluids and
metabolites and returns proteins to the blood from tissue spaces.

4. The following simplified diagram refers to the outline plan of the

circulation of blood in a mammal. Study the diagram and write the
number and name of the blood vessel in each case as mentioned
ahead.

(a) Several hours after a meal containing a lot of protein, which

vessel will contain the highest concentration of urea?

(b) Which vessel would contain the highest concentration of amino

acids and glucose soon after a meal?
Solution:

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(a) Hepatic portal vein (4)

(b) Hepatic portal vein (4)

5. The figures given below show diagrammatic cross-sections of

three kinds of blood vessels.

(a) Identify the blood vessels A, B and C.

(b) Name the parts labeled 1-4.
(c) Mention two structural differences between A and B.
(d) Name the kinds of blood that flow through A and through B
respectively.
(e) In which one of the above vessels referred to in (a) above does
the exchanges of gases actually take place?

Solution:
(a) A- Artery, B-Vein, C-Capillary
(b) 1 - External layer made of connective tissue
2 - Lumen
3 - Middle layer of smooth muscles and elastic fibres
4 - Endothelium
(c) An artery has thick muscular walls and a narrow lumen. It does
not have any valve. A vein on the other hand has thin muscular walls
and a wider lumen. It has valves to prevent backflow of blood.
(d) A (Artery)- Oxygenated blood, B (Vein)- Deoxygenated blood
(e) At the capillary level the actual exchange of gases takes place.

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6. The diagram given below represents the human heart in one
phase of its activity. Study the same and then answer the questions
that follow:
(a) Name the phase
(b) Which part of the heart is contracting in this phase? Give a
reason to support your answer.
(c) Name the parts numbered 1 to 6.
(d) What type of blood flows through the parts marked '1' and '2'?
(e) How many valves are closed in this phase?

Solution:
(a) Atrial Diastole and Ventricular Systole
(b) Ventricular muscles are contracting during this phase because the
valves between the two ventricles and pulmonary artery and aorta
are open while the atrio-ventricular valves are closed.

(c)

1 Pulmonary Artery
2 Aorta
3 Pulmonary Vein

4 Left Atrium
5 Bicuspid Valve

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6 Right Ventricle

(d) Part 1 (Pulmonary artery) → Deoxygenated blood

Part 2 (Aorta) → Oxygenated Blood

(e) Two i.e., bicuspid and tricuspid valves are closed in this phase.

7. Study the following diagram carefully and then answer the

questions that follow:

a. Name the cell labelled 1.

b. Identify the phenomenon occurring in A.
c. Mention two structural differences between 1 and 2.
d. Name the process occurring in B and C and state the importance
of this process in the human body.

Solution:
a. 1 - Red blood cell
b. Diapedesis
c.
RBC WBC
They lack a nucleus. They have a nucleus.

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 They are biconcave and disc- They are spherical and have
shaped. different sizes.

d. The process which occurs in B and C is phagocytosis. In this

process, the WBCs engulf the foreign particles and destroy them,
thus preventing the occurrence of disease.

8. Given below is a diagrammatic representation of certain types of

blood vessels in human body.

a. Identify the types of blood vessels numbered 1 to 5.

b. Where can such an arrangement be found as an example - in
lungs or in heart walls?

Solution:
a.
1 - Arteriole
2 - Artery
3 - Venule
4 - Capillaries
5 - Vein
b. Such an arrangement can be observed in the lungs.

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