A Level Biology Practice Exam

What is the function of the atrio-ventricular valves?

1. To regulate blood flow from the lungs to the heart

2. To ensure that blood flows in the correct direction between chambers

3. To maintain pressure within the arteries

4. To prevent blood from clotting

The correct answer is: To ensure that blood flows in the correct direction between chambers

The function of the atrio-ventricular valves is to ensure that blood flows in the correct direction between the chambers of the heart. These valves are located between the atria (the upper chambers) and the ventricles (the lower chambers) of the heart. When the heart contracts, these valves close to prevent blood from flowing back into the atria from the ventricles, thus directing blood flow from the atria to the ventricles and then out of the heart to the lungs and the rest of the body. The atrio-ventricular valves, including the mitral valve on the left and the tricuspid valve on the right, play a crucial role in maintaining the efficiency of the heart’s pumping action, ensuring that blood moves through the heart in a unidirectional manner. This is essential for proper circulation and for maintaining overall cardiovascular health. Other options focus on different aspects of cardiovascular function. For example, one option pertains to regulating blood flow from the lungs to the heart, which is the function of the pulmonary veins, and maintaining pressure within the arteries relates to the function of arterial valves rather than atrio-ventricular valves. Preventing blood from clotting is a function associated with the blood's physiological properties and