Past paper

• Which one of these is the main function of a flat bone?
• Which one of these is the correct pathway of air?
• Which one of these components of fitness is measured by the Ruler Drop Test?
• Which one of these blood vessels transports oxygenated blood back to the left atrium?
• Justify why muscular endurance is an important component of fitness needed for a games player to perform effectively.
• Which one of these pairs of muscles are used when breathing in during exercise?
• Define muscular endurance. Use an example of a sporting action in your answer.
• Identify lung volumes A and B in Figure 1.
• In Figure 1, what would happen to lung volume A during exercise?
• Answer A – Mouth/nose – trachea – bronchi – bronchioles – alveoli (1)
• Answer C – Pulmonary vein (1)
• Answer D – Reaction time (1)
• Answer D – Protection of vital organs (1)
• Answer D – Sternocleidomastoid and pectorals (1)
• Muscular endurance

  • Ability of the muscle or muscle group to undergo repeated contractions, avoiding fatigue
  • Ability of the muscles or muscle group to contract over a period of time
• Bones found at the elbow

  • Humerus
  • Radius
  • Ulna
• Inhalation at rest

  1. Diaphragm contracts and flattens (moves downwards)

  2. Intercostal muscles contract

  3. Rib cage moves up and out or chest cavity becomes larger

  4. Reducing the pressure inside the lungs (so air is drawn in)

  5. Molecules (of air) move from high pressure to low pressure
• Lung volume A is Tidal (volume)
• Structures of a synovial joint that help to prevent injury

  • Synovial membrane
  • Synovial fluid
  • Joint capsule
  • Bursae
  • Cartilage
  • Ligaments
• The muscle length stays the same

  The contraction is constant and is pushing against a load ie the floor or wall
• Depth of breathing increases (due to the chest cavity expanding)

  • More oxygen needed (in order to sustain exercise)
  • Removal of carbon dioxide
• Lung volume B is Inspiratory reserve (volume)
• During a wall sit, the type of muscular contraction in the legs is Isometric
• Reasons to test fitness levels before starting a training programme


  • To identify strengths and weaknesses
  • To show the starting level of fitness
  • To inform training requirements
  • To compare
  • To set goals
• Major muscles that allow the foot to move at the ankle

  • Gastrocnemius
  • Tibialis anterior
  • Soleus
• The type of synovial joint at the elbow is a Hinge joint
• Long-term effects of exercise

  • Body shape may change
  • Build muscle strength
  • Improve muscular endurance
  • Improve speed
  • Improve suppleness
  • Build cardiovascular endurance
  • Improve stamina
  • Increase in the size of the heart (hypertrophy)
  • Lower resting heart rate (bradycardia)
  • Decrease risk of heart attack/or equivalent
  • Decrease levels of anxiety or stress
• Parts of a warm-up

  • Gradual pulse-raising activity
  • Stretching
  • Skill-based practices
  • Mental preparation
• FITT principle application for fitness improvement

  1. Frequency - Increase the number of training sessions

  2. Intensity - Increase the intensity of training

  3. Time - Increase the duration of training

  4. Type - Change the type of training
• Reasons for warming up

  • Raise body temperature to increase elasticity of muscles
  • Increase muscle efficiency and achieve more intense muscle contraction
  • Increase blood flow to working muscles for better oxygen distribution
  • Gradual increase in heart rate for increased oxygen intake and muscle efficiency
  • Trigger metabolic changes for more energy production
  • Stimulate central nervous system for improved coordination and reaction time
  • Adapt body to environmental surroundings for better preparation
  • Promote a positive attitude towards exercising for higher motivation or focus
• Define circumduction: Turning or circular motion around a joint (which occurs in more than one plane)
• Name the type of joint where circumduction can take place: Ball and socket joint
• Thick muscular walls in arteries

  Allow blood to travel under high pressure
• Features of the structure of arteries

  • Small lumen
  • Thick muscular walls
• Identify the plane and axis when the gymnast is performing a cartwheel

  • Plane: Frontal
  • Axis: Sagittal
• Example of a sporting action for circumduction

  • Performing a serve in tennis
  • Bowling a cricket ball
  • Backstroke swimming
• Role of valves in the veins: To prevent blood flowing backward
• Small lumen in arteries

  Allows blood to travel quickly away from the heart
• Knowledge of speed and flexibility

  • Speed - the maximum rate at which an individual is able to perform a movement or cover a distance in a period of time, putting the body parts into action as quickly as possible
  • Flexibility - the range of movements possible at a joint
• Justification of the importance of speed and flexibility for a footballer

  • Speed is important for defenders to stop attackers running past them to the ball or to get into space
  • Speed is important for attackers when either running into space or dribbling the ball to gain an advantage over the defensive team
  • Short distance speed (5–10 metres) is vital in closing down the opposition or quickly getting away from an opposition player
  • Speed is vital if a team wishes to play counter-attacking football, enabling them to make a fast break against a broken defence
  • Flexibility is the ability to use power through the full range of motion of a joint, therefore a footballer will be able to exert more force through the ball
  • They will be able to kick the ball further to clear their defence, make long cross-field passes, play the ball up front by-passing the midfield
  • They will be able to kick the ball with more power which will allow them to take long shots at goal, with more force increasing the chances of scoring