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Question 17N.2.HL.TZ0.01d.ii

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Date November 2017 Marks available [Maximum mark: 1] Reference code 17N.2.HL.TZ0.01d.ii
Level HL Paper 2 Time zone TZ0
Command term Suggest Question number d.ii Adapted from N/A
d.ii.
[Maximum mark: 1]
17N.2.HL.TZ0.01d.ii

The sodium–potassium pump plays a role in muscle activity. Nitric oxide may have a role in the recovery of hypoxic muscles. The production of nitric oxide can be blocked with an inhibitor of the enzyme nitric oxide synthase. The graph shows the concentration of sodium–potassium pumps in the diaphragm of control and hypoxic rats without and with nitric oxide synthase inhibitor.

[Source: Reproduced with permission of the © ERS 2011. European Respiratory Journal June 2011, 37 (6) 1474–1481; DOI: 10.1183/09031936.00079810]

(d.ii)

Muscle fibres are stimulated to contract by the binding of acetylcholine to receptors in their membranes and the subsequent depolarization.

Suggest a reason for increasing the concentration of sodium–potassium pumps in the membranes of diaphragm muscle fibres.

[1]

Markscheme

a. resting potential restored faster

b. increases the «maximum» frequency/rate of contractions

    OR

    can contract again sooner

Accept shorter refractory period for mpa

Do not accept faster contraction/depolarization/ repolarization

[Max 1 Mark]