Question 19M.2.SL.TZ1.3c
| Date | May 2019 | Marks available | [Maximum mark: 2] | Reference code | 19M.2.SL.TZ1.3c |
| Level | SL | Paper | 2 | Time zone | TZ1 |
| Command term | Outline | Question number | c | Adapted from | N/A |
Outline the causes and consequences of blood clot formation in coronary arteries.
[2]
a. coronary heart disease/CHD/coronary artery disease/CAD occurs when there is reduction of oxygen to the heart muscle ✔
b. high ratio of LDL to HDL/fatty diet leads to plaque formation in arteries ✔
c. plaque breaks off causing damage that activates blood clot formation ✔
d. clots «in the bloodstream» may block a coronary artery/coronary thrombosis reducing blood flow/oxygen
OR
clots can cause heart attack/muscle death ✔
e. sickle cell anemia «crisis» produces blood clots «that can cause coronary/arterial blockage» ✔
Clots were related to a fatty diet or cholesterol but rarely to plaque build-up. The idea that plaque breaking could activate clot formation was seldom mentioned. Without really giving any accurate information, candidates got a mark just by linking blood clots to heart attack. There were many misconceptions and confusion. The first confusion was that blood clots lead to strokes. Quite a few responses focused on seizures and strokes as a possible consequence. In fairness to candidates, there is ambiguity in the way we use terminology in the common parlance. Cardiac arrest, cardiac failure, CHD and heart attack are technically not synonyms, though they are often used interchangeably. A student of biology is expected to understand the differences.
