AQA · GCSE · Biology

    Course version: 8461 · Version from Sept 2018

    A non-communicable disease: In coronary heart disease layers of fatty…

    Full specification wording

    Coronary heart disease: a non-communicable disease: In coronary heart disease layers of fatty material build up inside the coronary arteries, narrowing them.

    The coronary arteries supply oxygenated blood to the heart muscle itself.

    Checked against the AQA 8461 specification (opens in a new tab) on .

    • Point 2 of 10
    • 4 key terms

    Study notes

    From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    The idea

    The coronary arteries supply oxygenated blood to the heart muscle itself. In coronary heart disease, fatty material, mainly cholesterol, builds up in layers inside the walls of these arteries. This deposit narrows the lumen, so blood flow to the heart muscle is reduced. Less oxygen reaches the cardiac muscle, so aerobic respiration is limited and the muscle cannot contract as effectively. This can cause chest pain, called angina, and if an artery becomes completely blocked, part of the heart muscle is deprived of oxygen and may die, causing a heart attack. Risk factors include a diet high in saturated fat, smoking, high blood pressure and lack of exercise. Treatments aim to restore blood flow, for example by using stents or bypass surgery, or to reduce the fatty build-up with statins.

    What earns the marks

    • Fatty material, mainly cholesterol, builds up in layers inside the coronary arteries.
    • The build-up narrows the lumen of the coronary arteries and reduces blood flow to the heart muscle.
    • Reduced blood flow lowers oxygen supply to cardiac muscle, limiting aerobic respiration and contraction.
    • Consequences include angina and, if an artery is blocked, a heart attack where heart muscle dies.
    • Coronary heart disease is non-communicable and is linked to risk factors such as a high saturated fat diet, smoking and high blood pressure.

    Common mistakes and how to put them right

    • Saying fatty material builds up in the heart chambers.

      Put it right by stating it builds up inside the coronary arteries.

    • Confusing narrowing with complete blockage.

      Put it right by explaining that narrowing reduces flow, while a blockage can cause a heart attack.

    • Thinking the coronary arteries carry deoxygenated blood.

      Put it right by stating they supply oxygenated blood to the heart muscle.

    Exam tips

    • Name the coronary arteries and state that they supply the heart muscle with oxygenated blood.
    • Link the narrowed lumen to reduced oxygen supply and then to angina or heart attack.
    • Use the term lumen when describing the space inside an artery.

    Try the lesson

    The start of the Coronary heart disease: a non-communicable disease: In coronary heart disease layers of fatty material build up inside the coronary arteries, narrowing them. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    Have a go first

    In coronary heart disease, what builds up inside the coronary arteries and narrows them?

    Listen

    The coronary arteries supply oxygenated blood to the heart muscle itself. In coronary heart disease, fatty material, mainly cholesterol, builds up in layers inside the walls of these arteries. This deposit narrows the lumen, so blood flow to the heart muscle is reduced. Less oxygen reaches the cardiac muscle, so aerobic respiration is limited and the muscle cannot contract as effectively. This can cause chest pain, called angina, and if an artery becomes completely blocked, part of the heart muscle is deprived of oxygen and may die, causing a heart attack. Risk factors include a diet high in saturated fat, smoking, high blood pressure and lack of exercise. Treatments aim to restore blood flow, for example by using stents or bypass surgery, or to reduce the fatty build-up with statins. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Fatty material, mainly cholesterol, builds up in layers inside the coronary arteries. The build-up narrows the lumen of the coronary arteries and reduces blood flow to the heart muscle. Reduced blood flow lowers oxygen supply to cardiac muscle, limiting aerobic respiration and contraction. Consequences include angina and, if an artery is blocked, a heart attack where heart muscle dies. A common slip: Saying fatty material builds up in the heart chambers. Instead, stating it builds up inside the coronary arteries. Exam tip: Name the coronary arteries and state that they supply the heart muscle with oxygenated blood.

    See it

    A top-down flowchart. The first box says fatty material builds up in layers inside the coronary arteries, and an arrow leads to a box saying the lumen of the coronary arteries narrows. From there an arrow leads to a box saying blood flow to the heart muscle is reduced, then to less oxygen reaches the cardiac muscle, then aerobic respiration is limited, then muscle cannot contract as effectively, and finally to chest pain (angina). A second arrow from the narrowing box leads to a box saying the artery becomes completely blocked, then to part of the heart muscle is deprived of oxygen and may die, and finally to heart attack.
    This shows how fatty build-up narrows the coronary arteries, reducing oxygen supply to the heart muscle and leading to angina or, if an artery is blocked, a heart attack.

    Key words

    Say what each word means before you turn the card.

    Coronary circulation

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    Fatty deposits and cholesterol

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    Oxygen supply and aerobic respiration

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    Non-communicable disease risk factors

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    See every definition
    Coronary circulation
    The coronary arteries supply oxygenated blood to the heart muscle itself.
    Fatty deposits and cholesterol
    Fatty material, mainly cholesterol, builds up in layers inside the walls of the coronary arteries, narrowing them.
    Oxygen supply and aerobic respiration
    Less oxygen reaches the cardiac muscle, so aerobic respiration is limited and the muscle cannot contract as effectively.
    Non-communicable disease risk factors
    Coronary heart disease is non-communicable and is linked to risk factors such as a high saturated fat diet, smoking and high blood pressure.

    Label the diagram

    Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.

    The diagram again, with 3 boxes numbered instead of named. A top-down flowchart. The first box says fatty material builds up in layers inside the coronary arteries, and an arrow leads to a box saying the lumen of the coronary arteries narrows. From there an arrow leads to a box saying blood flow to the heart muscle is reduced, then to less oxygen reaches the cardiac muscle, then aerobic respiration is limited, then muscle cannot contract as effectively, and finally to chest pain (angina). A second arrow from the narrowing box leads to a box saying the artery becomes completely blocked, then to part of the heart muscle is deprived of oxygen and may die, and finally to heart attack.

    • 1Box 1

    • 2Box 2

    • 3Box 3

    0 of 3 labelled

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