Paper 1 Revision — Applied Anatomy and Physiology

Applied anatomy and physiology is the largest topic area in Paper 1, covering the musculoskeletal system, the cardio-respiratory system, and the effects of exercise on the body. This lesson is not a substitute for studying the full content — it is a strategic revision guide that highlights the topics most frequently examined, the question styles you should expect, and the exam technique required to maximise your marks.

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Topic Map: What You Need to Know

graph TD
    A["Applied Anatomy<br/>and Physiology<br/>(Section 3.1.1)"] --> B["Musculoskeletal<br/>System"]
    A --> C["Cardio-Respiratory<br/>System"]
    A --> D["Effects of<br/>Exercise"]
    B --> B1["Bones and<br/>functions of<br/>the skeleton"]
    B --> B2["Classification<br/>of joints"]
    B --> B3["Muscles and<br/>movement"]
    B --> B4["Antagonistic<br/>pairs"]
    C --> C1["Structure and<br/>function of<br/>the heart"]
    C --> C2["Blood vessels"]
    C --> C3["Respiratory<br/>system and<br/>gaseous exchange"]
    C --> C4["Composition<br/>of inhaled and<br/>exhaled air"]
    D --> D1["Immediate<br/>effects"]
    D --> D2["Short-term<br/>effects"]
    D --> D3["Long-term<br/>effects (aerobic<br/>and anaerobic)"]
    style A fill:#2c3e50,color:#fff
    style B fill:#27ae60,color:#fff
    style C fill:#e74c3c,color:#fff
    style D fill:#2980b9,color:#fff

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The Musculoskeletal System

Most Frequently Examined Topics

Based on past papers, the following musculoskeletal topics appear most often:

Topic	Frequency	Typical Question Style
Functions of the skeletal system	High	State/identify (1–2 marks)
Types of joints (hinge, ball and socket, pivot, condyloid)	High	Identify and give a sporting example (2–4 marks)
Antagonistic muscle pairs at specific joints	Very high	Explain which muscles contract/relax during a named movement (3–4 marks)
Types of muscle contraction (isotonic/isometric)	Medium	Define and give sporting examples (2–3 marks)
Structure and function of ligaments, tendons, cartilage	Medium	Describe the role of a named structure (1–2 marks)

Key Knowledge: Functions of the Skeletal System

Remember the mnemonic SAMPLE:

Letter	Function	Example
S	Support	The spine supports the upper body and head
A	Attachment for muscles	Tendons attach muscles to bones to enable movement
M	Movement	Bones act as levers to produce movement at joints
P	Protection	The cranium protects the brain; the rib cage protects the heart and lungs
L	Leverage	Bones and joints form lever systems that allow efficient movement
E	(Red blood cell) production	Red blood cells are produced in the bone marrow

Exam Tip: "State two functions of the skeletal system" is one of the most common 2-mark questions. Learn all six functions — you only need to state two, but knowing all six ensures you can always find two you are confident about.

Key Knowledge: Antagonistic Muscle Pairs

This is one of the most examined topics in the entire specification. You must be able to identify which muscle is the agonist (prime mover) and which is the antagonist for a given movement.

Joint	Movement	Agonist (Contracts)	Antagonist (Relaxes)
Elbow	Flexion	Biceps	Triceps
Elbow	Extension	Triceps	Biceps
Knee	Flexion	Hamstrings	Quadriceps
Knee	Extension	Quadriceps	Hamstrings
Hip	Flexion	Hip flexors	Gluteals
Hip	Extension	Gluteals	Hip flexors
Ankle	Plantarflexion	Gastrocnemius	Tibialis anterior
Ankle	Dorsiflexion	Tibialis anterior	Gastrocnemius

How to Answer Antagonistic Pair Questions

"Explain the role of the muscles at the elbow joint during a bicep curl." (4 marks)

Model answer: "During the upward phase (flexion) of a bicep curl, the biceps acts as the agonist and contracts concentrically to flex the elbow ✓. The triceps acts as the antagonist and relaxes to allow the movement ✓. During the downward phase (extension), the roles reverse — the triceps becomes the agonist and contracts to extend the elbow ✓, while the biceps relaxes as the antagonist ✓."

Exam Tip: Always state which muscle is the agonist, which is the antagonist, and what type of contraction occurs. Simply saying "the biceps contracts" without identifying it as the agonist will often miss the mark.

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The Cardio-Respiratory System

Most Frequently Examined Topics

Topic	Frequency	Typical Question Style
Structure and function of the heart (chambers, valves, blood flow pathway)	Very high	Describe the pathway of blood through the heart (3–4 marks), label a diagram (2–3 marks)
Blood vessels (arteries, veins, capillaries)	High	Compare arteries and veins (3–4 marks), describe the function of capillaries (2 marks)
Cardiac output, stroke volume, heart rate	Very high	Calculation questions (1–2 marks), explain the effect of exercise (3–4 marks)
Gaseous exchange at the alveoli	High	Describe the process (3–4 marks), explain what happens during exercise (4–6 marks)
Composition of inhaled vs exhaled air	Medium	Complete a table or read data (2–3 marks)

Key Calculation: Cardiac Output

The formula you must know:

Cardiac Output = Stroke Volume × Heart Rate

Q = SV × HR

Term	Definition	Units
Cardiac output (Q)	The volume of blood pumped by the heart per minute	ml/min or litres/min
Stroke volume (SV)	The volume of blood pumped per beat	ml/beat
Heart rate (HR)	The number of beats per minute	bpm

Example calculation: A performer has a resting heart rate of 72 bpm and a stroke volume of 70 ml.

• Q = SV × HR
• Q = 70 × 72
• Q = 5,040 ml/min (or 5.04 litres/min)

During exercise: Heart rate rises to 150 bpm and stroke volume increases to 120 ml.

• Q = 120 × 150
• Q = 18,000 ml/min (or 18 litres/min)

Exam Tip: Always show your working and always include units. Write the formula first, then substitute the values, then calculate. Even if your arithmetic is wrong, the examiner can award marks for the correct formula and correct substitution.

Key Knowledge: Blood Vessel Comparison

This is a classic comparison question.