Biology 12 Digestion, Circulation, Lymphatic and Respiration
Potential Written Test Questions
1. Define physical/ mechanical digestion. Name and describe five forms of physical
digestion in the human digestive system.
2. Name the four components of the human saliva. Describe the function of each
component in detail.
3. Name the three secretions of the human stomach. Describe the function of each of
the components in detail.
4. Name and describe the three functions of the human stomach.
5. Name the four principal sphincters of the human digestive system. State the
specific location of each of the sphincters. Describe the role that each of the
sphincters has in regulating human digestion.
6. Describe the complete chemical digestion of starch to glucose in the human
digestive system. State the location of each step, the chemicals involved, the
optimal pH, the reactants and the products.
7. Describe the complete chemical digestion of protein to amino acids in the human
digestive system. State the location of each step, the chemicals involved, the
optimal pH, the reactants and the products.
8. Describe three functions of the liver that relate to its role in human digestion.
9. Name three secretions of the human pancreas. Describe the function of each of the
components in detail.
10. Describe how the small and large intestines are adapted in humans for the
absorption of nutrients and water.
11. How are nutrient monomers absorbed into the body from the small intestine?
What role do lacteals and blood capillaries play in nutrient absorption?
12. Describe in detail the mechanism of action of the digestive hormone secretin.
13. Describe in detail the mechanism of action of the digestive hormone CCK.
14. Describe in detail the mechanism of action of the digestive hormone gastrin.
15. Describe in detail the mechanism of action of the digestive hormone
enterogastrone.
16. Describe the complete digestion of fat globules to fatty acids and glycerol in the
human digestive system. State the location of each step, the chemicals involved,
the optimal pH, the reactants and the products.
17. Describe the complete chemical digestion of nucleic acids to pentose, phosphate
group and nitrogenous base in the human digestive system. State the location of
each step, the chemicals involved, the optimal pH, the reactants and the products.
18. Compare and contrast the atria and ventricles of the human heart with respect to
their structure and function.
19. Describe the evolution of the vertebrate heart from fish, through frogs and
reptiles, to birds and mammals?
20. Compare and contrast arteries, capillaries and veins with respect to their structure
and function. Why does the curve for blood pressure change as blood travels from
arteries to veins? For what reason is blood pressure and blood velocity at their
lowest in the capillaries? What two structural adaptations exist in the veins to
cause a change in the curve for blood velocity?
21. Describe the three major stages of the cardiac cycle of the human heart, relating
the structures and functions of the chambers of the heart to the nerve conduction
system of the heart. Relate these major stages of the cardiac cycle to the P, QRS
and T cycles on the human electrocardiogram.
22. You are a red blood cell. Describe your journey through the adult vascular
pathway as you start in the inferior vena cava, travel through blood vessels in
contact with the digestive system, and return to the inferior vena cava.
23. You are a red blood cell. Describe your possible journeys through the fetal
vascular pathway as you start in the placenta, travel through the fetus’ heart, and
return to the placenta.
24. Compare and contrast the lymphatic system and the circulatory system with
respect to structures and functions.
25. Describe how the human body regulates the production of red blood cells in
response to a decline in low blood oxygen levels?
26. Describe how the human body controls blood clotting in response to a tear in a
capillary.
27. Compare and contrast red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets with respect
to relative numbers, structure and function.
28. Describe the production and differentiation of blood cells in the human body.
Consider site of production, the one progenitor cell, and different pathways of
differentiation.
29. Use your knowledge of blood pressure and osmotic pressure in the capillary bed
to explain how nutrients, waste, water, oxygen and carbon dioxide move between
the blood and the tissue cells. What role, if any, does the lymphatic system play in
this exchange of molecules?
30. Describe three functions of the lymphatic system and three functions of the
circulatory system.
31. Describe five functions of the liver in relation to the circulatory, digestive and
lymphatic systems.
32. Describe the structure and functions of the six major adaptations to fetal
circulation in contrast to adult circulation.
33. Describe the composition of human blood plasma. Describe the functions of each
of these sub-components of plasma.
34. What is hemoglobin and how does it function?
35. What is the path of air from the nose to the lungs? What are the special functions
of the nasal cavity, the larynx, the trachea, and the alveoli?
36. Name and explain the four stages of human respiration.
37. Describe the mechanics of breathing: inhalation and exhalation.
38. Describe the movement of oxygen, carbon dioxide, hemoglobin, hydrogen ions
and bicarbonate ions during external respiration.
39. Describe the movement of oxygen, carbon dioxide, hemoglobin, hydrogen ions
and bicarbonate ions during internal respiration.
40. What factors affect hemoglobin’s ability to bind oxygen, and how do they relate
to the environmental conditions in the lungs and the body tissues.