Author: Philip Colls
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Homeostasis – Kidney booklet revision questions   NAME:
Q1.
Furosemide and CVT are drugs used to remove excess fluid from the body. Scientists investigated the effect of these drugs on the volume of urine produced by human volunteers. The scientists used the following method.
•        They divided volunteers into three groups, A, B and C at random.
•        They gave all the volunteers the same food for 3 days.
•        After 3 days, they gave the volunteers in group A a tablet containing furosemide, the volunteers in group B a tablet containing CVT and the volunteers in group C a placebo (a tablet that did not contain either drug).
•        They then found the mean volume of urine produced by each group in the 4 hours after taking the tablets.
Some of the results the scientists obtained are shown in Table 1.
A value of ± 2 standard deviations from the mean includes over 95% of the data.
 
Table 1
Group | Mean volume of urine produced in 4 hours / cm^3 (± 2 standard deviations)

A
(furosemide)

1980
(± 152)

B
(CVT)

1201
(± 119)

C
(placebo)

312
(± 57)

(a)     All the volunteers were given the same food for 3 days.
Suggest and explain one reason why they were given the same food.
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(2)
(b)     Using Table 1, what can you conclude about the effectiveness of furosemide and CVT in the removal of excess fluid from the body?
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(c)     Furosemide is sometimes used to treat high blood pressure. Suggest how furosemide would cause a decrease in blood pressure.
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(d)     Furosemide inhibits the absorption of sodium and chloride ions from the filtrate produced in the nephrons. Explain how furosemide causes an increase in the volume of urine produced.
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The scientists also measured the mean rate of flow of blood plasma into the kidneys.
The results the scientists obtained are shown in Table 2.
 
Table 2
Group | Mean rate of flow of blood plasma into the kidneys / cm^3 min^–1

A
(furosemide)

380

B
(CVT)

342

C
(placebo)

295

(e)     The mean rate of flow of blood plasma is 60% of the mean rate of blood flow into the kidneys.
How much greater is the flow of blood into the kidneys with furosemide than with group C (placebo) over the 4 hours of the investigation? Give your answer in cm^3.
Answer = ____________________ cm^3                   (1)
(Total 9 marks)
Q2. In the kidney, ultrafiltration and selective reabsorption are two of the processes involved in the formation of urine.
(a)     (i)      Where does ultrafiltration occur?
____________________________________________________________(1)
(ii)     Give one component of the blood which is not normally present in the filtrate.
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(b)     The kidneys remove a substance called creatinine from the blood. The rate of creatinine removal is a measure of the rate of filtration of the blood.
In one hour, a person excreted 75 mg of creatinine in his urine. The concentration of creatinine in the blood entering his kidneys was constant at 0.01 mg cm^−3.
Calculate the rate at which the blood was filtered in cm^3 min^−1. Show your working.

 
Filtration rate = ____________________ cm^3 min^−1
(2)
(c)     Reabsorption of glucose takes place in the proximal tubule. Explain how the cells of the proximal tubule are adapted for this function.
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(2)
(Total 6 marks)
Q3.
The graph shows changes in the amounts of water, glucose and sodium ions as fluid passes along a kidney tubule from the renal capsule to the collecting duct
 
(a)     Which hormone causes the decrease in the water content in the distal convoluted tubule?
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(1)
(b)     Explain the change in the amount of glucose.
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(2)
(c)     Explain the shape of the curve for sodium ions in the loop of Henle.
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(3)
(Total 6 marks)

Q4. The graph below shows the concentration of the filtrate in different parts of one kidney tubule.
 
(a)     More than 99% of biological molecules are reabsorbed from the filtrate in the proximal convoluted tubule. Despite this, the concentration of fluid in this tubule remains constant.
Explain why.
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(b)     Explain the shape of the curve in the loop of Henle in the graph.
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(c)     What is the evidence in the graph that this person was secreting antidiuretic hormone (ADH)? Explain your answer.
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 (2) (Total 6 marks)
Q5. Osmoreceptors are specialised cells that respond to changes in the water potential of the blood.
(a)     Give the location of osmoreceptors in the body of a mammal.
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(b)     When a person is dehydrated, the cell volume of an osmoreceptor decreases.
Explain why.
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(c)     Stimulation of osmoreceptors can lead to secretion of the hormone ADH. Describe and explain how the secretion of ADH affects urine produced by the kidneys.
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(4)
The efficiency with which the kidneys filter the blood can be measured by the rate at which they remove a substance called creatinine from the blood. The rate at which they filter the blood is called the glomerular filtration rate (GFR).
In 24 hours, a person excreted 1660 mg of creatinine in his urine. The concentration of creatinine in the blood entering his kidneys was constant at 0.01 mg cm^–3.
(d)     Calculate the GFR in cm^3 minute^–1.

 
Answer = ____________________
(1)
(e)     Creatinine is a breakdown product of creatine found in muscle tissues. Apart from age and gender, give two factors that could affect the concentration of creatinine in the blood.
1. _________________________________________________________________
2. _________________________________________________________________
(1)
(Total 9 marks)
Q6.
(a)     Humans can produce urine which is more concentrated than their blood plasma.
(i)      Explain the role of the loop of Henle in the absorption of water from the filtrate.
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(6)
(ii)     Explain the role of ADH in the production of concentrated urine.
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(4)

(b)     A species of crayfish lives in fresh water. This crayfish does not have kidneys but it does have an organ which excretes nitrogenous waste and controls the amount of water in its body. The diagram shows this excretory organ.
 
(i)      Describe how excretion in this organ differs from excretion in a human nephron.
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(3)

(ii)     Suggest how the production of large amounts of dilute urine enables the crayfish to survive in fresh water.
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(2)
(Total 15 marks)
Q7.
Mammals and fish remove nitrogenous waste from their bodies in different forms.
(a)     Name two polymers present in mammals and fish that contain nitrogen.
1. _________________________________________________________________
2. _________________________________________________________________
(2)
(b)     In a mammal urea is removed from the blood by the kidneys and concentrated in the filtrate.
(i)      Describe how urea is removed from the blood.
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(2)
(ii)     Explain how urea is concentrated in the filtrate.
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(4)
(c)     The diagram shows one way in which a person who has kidney disease can have the condition managed. In the process a fluid is put into the abdominal cavity. Exchange of materials takes place across the membrane that surrounds the abdominal cavity. This removes waste products from the blood. After five hours the fluid is drained out of the cavity and discarded. The cavity is then refilled with fresh fluid.
 
The table shows the concentration of solutes in the fresh fluid.
 
Solute | Concentration / mmol dm^−3
Sodium ions (Na^+) | 132
Chloride ions (Cl^−) | 96
Calcium ions (Ca^2+) | 1.25
Magnesium ions (Mg^2+) | 0.25
Glucose | 76
Urea | 0
(i)      By what process does urea enter the fluid in the abdominal cavity from the blood?
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(ii)     Explain why the fluid is changed every five hours.
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(iii)    Fluid of the composition shown in the table is used instead of distilled water.
Explain why.
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_______________________________________________ (2) (Total 12 marks)
Q8. Three processes are involved in the formation of urine in a mammalian kidney. These are ultrafiltration, selective reabsorption and concentration. The diagram shows where these processes take place in a nephron.
 
(a)     Describe how ultrafiltration produces glomerular filtrate.

(5)
(b)     Some people who have diabetes do not secrete insulin. Explain how a lack of insulin affects reabsorption of glucose in the kidneys of a person who does not secrete insulin.

(4)
(c)     Some desert mammals have long loops of Henle and secrete large amounts of antidiuretic hormone (ADH). Explain how these two features are adaptations to living in desert conditions.

(6)
(Total 15 marks)
Q9. (a)     The control of water balance in the body involves negative feedback.
(i)      Describe what is meant by negative feedback.
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(1)
(ii)     Water is removed from the body via the kidneys. Give two other ways in which water is removed from the body.
1. ____________________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________________
(2)
(iii)    Name the part of the brain which acts as the coordinator in the control of water balance.
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(1)
(b)     Figure 1 shows the cells lining the collecting duct in a human kidney. ADH molecules bind to the receptor proteins and this triggers the vesicles containing aquaporins to bind with the plasma membrane next to the lumen. Figure 2 shows an aquaporin which is a large channel protein.
Figure 1
 
Figure 2
 
(i)      From which gland is ADH released?
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(ii)     Use the information given to explain how ADH increases the movement of water from the lumen of the collecting duct into the blood.
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(c)     The gene for the ADH receptor proteins is found on the X chromosome. One allele of this gene causes a non-functioning receptor protein to be made. This allele is recessive and is one cause of the condition called diabetes insipidus.
(i)      What would be the most obvious symptom of diabetes insipidus?
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(ii)     Suggest why diabetes insipidus is more common in males.
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(iii)    A recessive allele which has harmful effects is able to reach a higher frequency in a population than a harmful dominant allele. Explain how.
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(Total 15 marks)
Q10. (a)     A diabetic person and a non-diabetic person each ate the same amount of glucose. One hour later, the glucose concentration in the blood of the diabetic person was higher than that of the non-diabetic person. Explain why.
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(b)     (i)     The urine of a non-diabetic person does not contain glucose. Explain why.
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(ii)     A high blood glucose concentration could cause glucose to be present in the urine of a diabetic person. Suggest how.
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(2)
(c)     A test for glucose in urine uses immobilised enzymes on a plastic test strip. One of these enzymes is glucose oxidase. Explain why the test strip detects glucose and no other substance.
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(2)
(d)     If the glomerular filtrate of a diabetic person contains a high concentration of glucose, he produces a larger volume of urine. Explain why.
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(3)
(e)     In some forms of kidney disease, proteins from the blood plasma are found in the urine. Which part of the nephron would have been damaged by the disease to cause proteins from blood plasma to be present in the urine? Explain your answer.
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 (3)  (Total 15 marks)

Mark schemes
Q1.
(a)     1.      Affects water potential (of blood/body);
Accept Ψ for water potential
2.      Affects volume of urine (produced/removed);
2
(b)     1.      Furosemide and CVT more effective than placebo/control/C
OR
Furosemide more effective (than CVT);
Accept both (drugs)/A and B more effective than placebo/control/C
2.      Correct reference to a significant increase/difference as SD’s do not overlap;
2
(c)     Lower volume of blood;
1
(d)     1.      Water potential of filtrate/tubule decreased;
Accept correct reference to water potential gradient
Accept maintains low water potential.
Accept nephron for filtrate/tubule.
2.      Less water (reabsorbed) by osmosis (from filtrate/tubule);
Accept nephron for filtrate/tubule.
Accept no water (reabsorbed) for ‘less’
Accept (more) water (absorbed) by osmosis (into filtrate/tubule)
3.      Collecting duct (is where osmosis occurs);
Accept proximal convoluted tubule or distal convoluted tubule or (descending) loop of Henle
Ignore PCT, DCT.
3
(e)     Accept answers in the range 33840 to 34680;
1
[9]
Q2.
(a)     (i)      Renal capsule / Bowman’s capsule / glomerulus / basement membrane;
1
(ii)     blood cells / platelets / proteins / named plasma protein;
1
(b)     75 divided by 60 / 75 divided by 0.01;
1
Answer 125;
(Correct answer gains two marks)
1
(c)     (Many) mitochondria provide ATP / energy for active transport;
(Many) carrier proteins for active transport / channel proteins for facilitated diffusion;
Microvilli / brush border provide large surface area (for absorption);
2 max
[6]
Q3.
(a)     ADH;
(accept vasopressin)
1
(b)     reabsorption / passes back into blood;
by active transport;
2
(c)     (sodium) ions pumped out of ascending limb;
water passes out of descending limb (into high concentration in tissue fluid / interstitial fluid);
some sodium ions re-enter descending loop (by diffusion);
high concentration at base of loop / some ions diffuse out near base increasing concentration outside loop;
3 max
[6]
Q4.
(a)     Water is also reabsorbed
1
(b)     1.      Concentration rises in descending limb because sodium ions enter and water lost;
2.      Concentration falls in ascending limb because sodium ions (and chloride) ions actively removed;
3.      But water remains (in ascending limb) because its walls are impermeable (to water).
3
(c)     1.      Concentration rises in collecting duct because it loses water by osmosis;
2.      ADH increases permeability (of walls of collecting duct) to water.
2
[6]
Q5.
(a)      Hypothalamus.
1
(b)     1.      Water potential of blood will decrease;
2.      Water moves from osmoreceptor into blood by osmosis.
2
(c)     1.      Permeability of membrane / cells (to water) is increased;
2.      More water absorbed from / leaves distal tubule / collecting duct;
3.      Smaller volume of urine;
4.      Urine becomes more concentrated.
4
(d)     115.2 / 115.3 (cm^3 minute^–1).
1
(e)     Any two of the following for 1 mark:
Muscle / body mass
Ethnicity
Exercise
Kidney disease – do not accept ‘health’.
1
[9]
Q6.
(a)     (i)      1.      In the ascending limb sodium(ions) actively removed;
2.      Ascending limb impermeable to water;
3.      In descending limb sodium(ions) diffuse in;
4.      Descending limb water moves out / permeable to water;
5.      Low water potential / high concentration of ions in the medulla / tissue fluid;
6.      The longer the loop / the deeper into medulla, the lower the water potential in medulla / tissue fluid;
7.      Water leaves collecting duct / DCT;
8.      By osmosis / down water potential gradient;
(credit once only)
6 max
(ii)     1.      When water potential of the blood too low;
2.      Detected by receptors in the hypothalamus;
3.      Pituitary secretes / releases (more) ADH;
4.      ADH increases the permeability / recruitment of aquaporins / opens channels for water in the DCT / collecting duct;
5.      More water is reabsorbed / leaves the nephron moves into the blood;
6.      By osmosis down the water potential gradient;
4 max
(b)     (i)       Ammonia not urea;
Ammonia (into labyrinth) enters by diffusion, not (ultra) filtration;
Reabsorption of glucose from labyrinth, not PCT / no reabsorption in PCT;
All salt reabsorbed / no salt in urine, comparison to humans;
Concentrated urine not produced;
3 max 
(ii)     Water potential lower in cytoplasm of cells / fresh water higher water potential than cells / idea of water potential gradient;
(Removal of excess water) prevents osmotic damage;
OR
All salts reabsorbed (because difficult to replace);
Take in excess water and need to remove it;
2
[15]
Q7.
(a)     any two named polymers [subsets = 1 max. (e.g. protein / haemoglobin)]
2
(b)     (i)      hydrostatic pressure / description of pressure;
causes ultrafiltration at Bowman's capsule / glomeruli / renal capsule;
through basement membrane;
enabled by small size of urea molecule;
max 2
(ii)     reabsorption of water;     [water out]
by osmosis;
at the PCT / descending LoH;
at the DCT / CD;
active transport of ions / glucose creates gradient (in context);
max 4
(c)     (i)      by (simple) diffusion;
[reject facilitated]
1
(ii)     to maintain concentration gradients / stop reaching equilibrium;
[idea of maintaining concentration gradients]
1
(iii)     ions, glucose and amino acids would diffuse into the dialysate;
because of their concentration gradients;
Causing deficiency in these substances;
OR
the WP of the dialysate would be higher / less negative than the WP of the surrounding tissues;
therefore osmosis would take place into the cells surrounding the abdominal cavity;
causing these cells to burst / damaging these cells / cannot be excreted;
max 2
[12]
Q8.
(a)     1.      Blood pressure / hydrostatic pressure;
2.      Small molecules / named example;
3.      Pass through basement membrane / basement membrane acts as filter;
4.      Protein too large to go through / large so stays behind;
5.      Presence of pores in capillaries / presence of podocytes;
5
(b)     1.      High concentration of glucose in blood;
2.      High concentration in tubule / in filtrate;
3.      Reabsorbed by facilitated diffusion / active transport;
4.      Requires proteins / carriers;
5.      These are working at maximum rate / are saturated;
6.      Not all glucose is reabsorbed / some is lost in urine;
4 max
(c)     For general principle, applied to either example:
1.      More water (from filtrate) reabsorbed / returned to blood / less lost in urine;
2.      By osmosis;
3.      From collecting duct / from end of second convoluted tubule;
4.      Due to longer loop of Henle;
For loop of Henle, maximum 2 marks:
5.      Sodium / chloride ions absorbed from filtrate in ascending limb;
6.      Gradient established in medulla / concentration of ions increases down medulla;
For ADH, maximum 2 marks:
7.      Acts on collecting duct / distal convoluted tubule / second convoluted tubule;
8.      Makes cells more permeable / inserts aquaporins in plasma membranes;
Note: to score full marks, candidates must make one specific statement about
Loop of Henle and one about ADH.
6 max
[15]
Q9.
(a)     (i)      where a change triggers a response which reduces the effect of a change;
1
(ii)     e.g. sweating, breathing, defaecating, other valid example;
(reject respiration
evaporation not acceptable as a 2^nd mark if sweating or breathing given)
2 max
(iii)    hypothalamus;
1
(b)     (i)     pituitary;
(ignore anterior pituitary)
1
(ii)     1.       ADH causes vesicles containing aquaporins / aquaporins to be inserted into membrane / collecting duct wall / plasma;
2.       water enters cell through aquaporins;
3.       by osmosis / diffusion / down a water potential gradient;
4.       (from cell) to capillary;
5.       via interstitial fluid;
4 max
(c)     (i)     excessive urination / drinking / diluted urine / thirst;
1
(ii)     because males only have one X chromosome / do not have Y chromosome;
a single copy of the recessive allele will be expressed;
2
(iii)     recessive alleles can be carried by individuals without showing effects / dominant allele always expressed;
organism that are carriers more likely to reproduce / affected organism less likely to reproduce;
therefore recessive alleles are more likely to be passed on / dominant alleles less likely to be passed on;
3
[15]
Q10.
(a)     In Diabetic person:
1.      Lack of insulin / reduced sensitivity of cells to insulin;
2.      Reduced uptake of glucose by cells / liver / muscles;
3.      Reduced conversion of glucose to glycogen;
Penalise zero / no 
once only
3
(b)     (i)      Leaves the blood at kidney;
Taken back into blood / reabsorbed (from kidney tubule);
Reject some reabsorption
(Reabsorbed) in 1^st convoluted tubule;
Kidney / named part needs to be mentioned once
2 max
(ii)     Large amount / high concentration of glucose in filtrate;
Cannot all be reabsorbed / 1^st convoluted tube too short to reabsorb
all of glucose / saturation of carriers;
2
(c)     Enzyme has specific shape to active site / active site has specific tertiary structure;
Only glucose fits / has complementary structure / can form ES complex;
2
(d)     Glucose in filtrate lowers water potential;
Ignore ‘urine’. Accept increase solute potential
Lower Ψ gradient / less difference in Ψ filtrate − Ψ plasma;
Ignore ‘concentration’
Less water reabsorbed by osmosis;
Accept diffusion of water. Reject no water reabsorbed if implied
3
(e)     1.      Glomerulus / Bowman’s capsule / renal capsule;
2.      Basement membrane;
3.      Proteins are large (molecules) / proteins cannot normally pass through filter / proteins
can only pass through if filter damaged;
3
[15]