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IGCSE · Cambridge (CIE) · 0970

Identify seven skin structures in an original diagram

Follow each leader to hair, muscle, gland, receptor, neurone, vessels or fat.

Homeostasis pathway · 0970 (9–1) · 14.4
Exam scope and assessment notes

Extended only (Supplement) · Biology 0970, 2026–2028. Use the stated specimen features and evidence. Diagrams are schematic. Written practice is self-checked; human subject-teacher review, supervised practical competence and cumulative assessment remain pending. Cambridge states that IGCSE 0970 has the same subject content as IGCSE 0610, with 9–1 grading. This StudyForA pathway maps the 2026–2028 syllabus only. This 9–1 graded qualification is available only in a limited number of administrative zones. Confirm that your centre can enter you for this code and exam series with Cambridge International. Cambridge has published a separate syllabus for 2029. StudyForA has not reconciled that version yet; this page supports exams in 2026, 2027 and 2028 only.

Before you begin

  • Recall hormone production and blood transport, respiration, liver storage and electrical impulses along neurones.

Work on paper. Try each question before revealing help, and explain why your method works.

Quick readiness check

Which structure carries an impulse towards the central nervous system?

What you will learn

  • Identify the seven required structures
  • Separate a receptor from its sensory nerve process

Identify seven skin structures in an original diagram

Original schematic: A hair, B hair erector muscle, C sweat gland, D receptor, E sensory nerve process, F blood vessels, G fatty tissue. Not to scale; whole neurone cell body omitted.Hairy-skin identificationABCDEFGSchematic; whole neurone omitted
Original schematic: A hair, B hair erector muscle, C sweat gland, D receptor, E sensory nerve process, F blood vessels, G fatty tissue. Not to scale; whole neurone cell body omitted. Original teaching model.
Homeostasis model reference
FeatureMeaning
A–CHair; hair erector muscle; sweat gland
D–EReceptor; sensory nerve process
F–GBlood vessels; fatty tissue
ScopeSchematic; sensory process rather than whole neurone

Identify the seven required structures

The original teaching diagram shows a simplified hairy-skin section. A points to the hair projecting above the epidermis. B ends on the oblique hair erector muscle attached to the follicle. C points to a coiled sweat gland with a duct reaching the surface. These endpoints identify structures rather than the letters’ positions in empty space.

D marks a receptor, and E marks a continuous sensory nerve process leading from it. A receptor detects a stimulus; a sensory neurone carries an electrical impulse towards the central nervous system. The drawn nerve process represents part of the neurone, not a complete cell body or an entire route to the brain. The generic receptor is not labelled as a particular temperature receptor.

Separate a receptor from its sensory nerve process

F points to the blood vessels in the dermal network. G points to fatty tissue below the dermis, in the subcutaneous region. Fat contributes insulation, while vessels transport blood. The diagram simplifies shapes, proportions and colours; it is not a microscope photograph or a measurement of vessel diameter.

Practise by following every leader and then checking all seven names. Hair and its erector muscle are distinct structures, and a sweat gland is distinct from its surface pore. Skin identification is a prerequisite for temperature regulation, but identifying one structure does not yet explain sweating, shivering or arteriole control. Those mechanisms are developed in later lessons.

Pause and explain

Which pair must remain separately identified?

Put the idea to work

Worked example

Identify A–G in the original model.

Show the worked solution
  1. A hair; B hair erector muscle; C sweat gland.
  2. D receptor; E sensory nerve process; F blood vessels; G fatty tissue.

Answer A hair; B hair erector muscle; C sweat gland; D receptor; E sensory nerve process (part of a sensory neurone); F blood vessels; G fatty tissue.

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Choose Easy, Normal or Difficult. Save your answers and open worked review after finishing.

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From guided practice to a new situation

Write your answer and reasoning first. Use a hint only if you are stuck. The model solution is for self-checking; your written work is not automatically marked.

1 · Guided

Name all seven A–G endpoints in the original diagram.

Give me a hint

Follow leaders before using the key.

Compare my reasoning
  1. Identify hair, muscle and coiled gland.
  2. Identify receptor, nerve process, vessels and fat.

A hair; B hair erector muscle; C sweat gland; D receptor; E sensory nerve process (part of a sensory neurone); F blood vessels; G fatty tissue.

Look for these in your work

  • Identify all seven endpoints
  • Keep receptor and neurone distinct
2 · Independent

Distinguish the roles of D and E.

Give me a hint

Detection precedes impulse transmission.

Compare my reasoning
  1. D is the stimulus-detecting receptor.
  2. E is a sensory neurone process carrying an electrical impulse.

D detects a stimulus; E represents a sensory neurone process carrying an electrical impulse towards the central nervous system.

Look for these in your work

  • State receptor detection
  • State sensory impulse transmission
3 · Transfer

Why can this model identify fatty tissue without proving its exact thickness or the full neurone route?

Give me a hint

Identify what is schematic and what is omitted.

Compare my reasoning
  1. Proportions are simplified and not a measurement scale.
  2. Only a sensory nerve process is drawn, without the complete cell body or CNS route.

The model identifies structures but is not to scale; it shows only part of the sensory neurone and does not provide a full CNS route or exact tissue thickness.

Look for these in your work

  • Use the diagram’s scope
  • Identify omitted structures

Common mistakes

  • Naming the letter location instead of its leader endpoint.
  • Calling the nerve process a complete neurone cell body.
Recall without your notes

What can you explain now?

Which pair must remain separately identified?

Compare with the explanation

Receptor and sensory nerve process

They have different roles and separate endpoints.

After trying it yourself, choose your next review. This is your self-assessment.

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Make it stick

Identify all seven structures by their endpoints and explain receptor versus sensory-neurone roles.

If you needed the solution, close it and solve the problem again from a blank page. A correct answer is stronger when you can explain the reason for each step.

Keep learning Biology (9-1)

Course scope and assessment

780 sequenced lessons provide 2340 guided, independent and application problems in characteristics, classification, cells, organisation, specimen size, membrane transport, biological molecules, enzymes, plant and human nutrition, plant transport, circulatory systems, the heart, blood vessels, blood, disease transmission, body defences, immunity, gas exchange in humans, respiration energy uses and investigations, aerobic respiration, anaerobic respiration and recovery, excretion in humans, coordination and response, sense organs, hormones, homeostasis, tropic responses, drugs, asexual reproduction, sexual reproduction, sexual reproduction in plants, sexual reproduction in humans, sex hormones in humans, sexually transmitted infections, chromosomes, genes and proteins, mitosis, meiosis, monohybrid inheritance, variation, adaptive features, selection, energy flow, food chains and webs, nutrient cycles, population, community, ecosystem, population-growth phases, food supply, habitat destruction, pollution, conservation, biotechnology and genetic modification. 61 of 61 syllabus sections have linked teaching and staged practice. The earlier inheritance overview remains introductory, and the monohybrid pathway develops the relevant Core and Supplement requirements. This is not full programme completion or guaranteed exam readiness. Written practice is self-checked. This is the separate 9–1 qualification 0970; Cambridge states that its 2026–2028 subject content is otherwise the same as 0610. This 9–1 graded qualification is available only in a limited number of administrative zones. Confirm that your centre can enter you for this code and exam series with Cambridge International. The 2029 syllabus is separately published at https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/Images/764352-2029-syllabus.pdf and is not yet mapped here. This course supports exams in 2026, 2027 and 2028 only.

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