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2.2 Animal tissues, organs and organ systems

2.2 Animal tissues, organs and organ systems

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Question 2

A clinical study compared two types of replacement valves for patients with severe mitral valve regurgitation (a leaking mitral valve):

  • Mechanical Mitral Valve (MMV) (made of synthetic materials such as carbon and titanium)
  • Bioprosthetic Mitral Valve (BMV) (made of treated biological tissue, typically porcine or bovine)

The data from the study is shown in the table below:

MeasurementMechanical Mitral Valve (MMV)Bioprosthetic Mitral Valve (BMV)
Number of patients in the study450045004500320032003200
Number of patients experiencing thromboembolism (blood clots) within 1 year180180180323232
Percentage of patients alive after 5 years82%82\%82%79%79\%79%
Percentage of patients requiring repeat valve surgery within 5 years2.0%2.0\%2.0%14.0%14.0\%14.0%
a.

Explain why a damaged, leaking mitral valve leads to a reduced ability to perform aerobic exercise.

[4]
b.

Give one conclusion comparing the rate of thromboembolism within 1 year between the two groups. Include calculations of percentages to support your conclusion.

[2]
c.

Based on the data provided and your biological knowledge, evaluate the choice of a Bioprosthetic Mitral Valve (BMV) compared to a Mechanical Mitral Valve (MMV).

[4]
Markscheme

2.2 Animal tissues, organs and organ systems Questions

  1. GCSE
  2. /Biology
  3. /2.2 Animal tissues, organs and organ systems

44 exam-style questions on AQA GCSE Biology 2.2 Animal tissues, organs and organ systems, covering 2.2.1 The human digestive system, 2.2.2 The heart and blood vessels, 2.2.3 Blood, 2.2.4 Coronary heart disease: a non-communicable disease, 2.2.5 Health issues, 2.2.6 The effect of lifestyle on some non-communicable diseases, and 2.2.7 Cancer. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.

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