NCEA Level 1 Human Biology (90177) 2009 — page 1 of 3
Assessment Schedule – 2009
Human Biology: Describe maintenance of normal body functioning (90177)
Evidence Statement
QUESTION ONE
Evidence contributing to
Achievement
Evidence contributing to
Achievement with Merit
Evidence contributing to
Achievement with Excellence
Describes reasons for both changes eg:
one of each.
AND explains
ONE of eg:
 ADH produced by pituitary, which
reduces water in urine / promotes
water retention by kidneys / reduces
urine production/urine more
concentrated.
 Dilation of blood vessels to skin
and muscles takes blood away from
the internal organs so reduces
filtering by kidneys so retaining
water in the body.
 Breathing rate slows down (less
water exhaled).
 Thirst response makes person drink
water.
 Increased respiration rate increases
water production.
 Temperature drops less, water lost
as sweat.
Discusses by linking explanations for
how water level is restored eg:
ONE link
 Low water level in blood
stimulates production of ADH by
pituitary. This stimulates water to
be reabsorbed by the kidneys
[urine more concentrated/less
produced], so maintaining water
levels until blood water levels
return to normal then ADH
production will decrease / drop.
 BMR decreased/temperature
drops/less water lost.
 Respiration rate increased, more
water produced until normal level
reached.
Evidence contributing to
Achievement
Evidence contributing to
Achievement with Merit
Evidence contributing to
Achievement with Excellence
Describes the pituitary gland secretes
TSH which stimulates the thyroid
gland to produce thyroxine
AND
Describes an aspect of feedback
control. ONE of eg:
 High level of thyroxine [in blood]
decreases / stops production of
TSH by pituitary OR low level of
thyroxine increases / starts
production of TSH by pituitary.
 High level of TSH increases /
starts production of thyroxine by
thyroid OR low level of TSH
decreases / stops production of
thyroxine by thyroid.
 Increase in BMR decreases
production of TSH OR decrease in
BMR increases production of TSH.
As for Achievement AND explains how
ONE hormone level controls the
production of the other.
ONE of eg:
Discusses by linking the action of
BOTH glands AND their hormones to
feedback control of BMR.
Ie both pituitary and thyroid glands.
Note: if no reference to effect on
BMR = max. A
Note: must have a reference to BMR
increasing/decreasing
Describes reasons for ONE change
eg:EITHER temperature or water.
 heat produced in respiration
increases body temperature
 movement/working of muscles
generates/ uses energyto produce
heat
 sweating decreases water levels in
the body.
 exhaling removes water.
AND one of :
Describes how the body responds to
restore water balance, eg:
Water levels increased by less blood
filtered by kidneys / reduced urine
production / increased ADH
production./thirst response
[‘drinking’ is not a body response].
QUESTION TWO
 The production of TSH by pituitary
increases its level in the blood,
which stimulates the thyroid gland
to produce / increase production of
thyroxine. Thyroxine levels
increase in the blood, which causes
the BMR to increase.

 High level of thyroxine causes the
pituitary to decrease production of
TSH. TSH levels in the blood get
lower, causing the thyroid to reduce
production of thyroxine. BMR
decreases.
NCEA Level 1 Human Biology (90177) 2009 — page 2 of 3
QUESTION THREE
Evidence contributing to
Achievement
Describes any THREE short-term
effects on normal body functioning; at
least ONE from each substance eg:
(Question Three (a))
Alcohol (short term)
 slows reactions / judgement
impaired
 blood vessels dilate / face gets
flushed / body loses heat
 heart works harder
 liver works to break down alcohol
 kidneys produce more urine /
dehydration
 headaches / dizziness / nausea /
vomiting.
 violent behaviour.
Caffeine
 stimulation of body / heart / CNS /
respiratory system
 alertness / concentration increased
 nervousness increased / becomes
edgy / irritable / tense/hyperactive
 kidneys produce more urine /
dehydration
 increased stomach acid.
 brain works faster.
AND
(Question Three (b))
Describes ONE long-term response to
EITHER alcohol OR caffeine eg:
Alcohol (long term effect)
 body may become addicted
 brain damaged / brain cells killed
 heart [muscle] damaged
 liver [cells] damaged / killed
 stomach lining damaged
 pancreas damaged.
 inhibits ADH.
Caffeine
 body may become addicted
 persistent edginess / irritability /
panic attacks / nervous tension
 pulse elevated / heart works faster,
harder
 persistent stomach acidity levels /
stomach lining damaged
 tendency to persistent dehydration.
Evidence contributing to
Achievement with Merit
As for Achievement and explains ONE longterm response to excessive alcohol OR ONE
long-term response to excessive caffeine eg:
Alcohol (long term)
 Addiction means that the person cannot
stop drinking alcohol [energy drinks]
which increases damage to all body
systems and can lead to death.
 Liver breaks down alcohol; excess alcohol
kills / damages liver [cells] / impairing liver
function, and may lead to hepatitis / cancer
/ cirrhosis.
 Excess alcohol damages brain / brain cells
killed, causing memory loss / impairing
learning / impaired judgement / responses
all slower.
 Excess alcohol damages heart [muscle],
impairing heart function, and may lead to
heart failure/high blood pressure
 Excess alcohol damages stomach lining,
which may lead to ulcers.
 Excess alcohol damages the pancreas
impairing function / production of digestive
enzymes, causing digestive problems.
Possible impaired production of insulin
causing diabetes.
 Excess alcohol may cause persistent
dehydration, which may lead to impaired
kidney functioning [alcohol is diuretic].
OR
Caffeine (long term)
 Addiction means that the person cannot
stop drinking caffeine [energy drinks] with
flow-on effects to the nervous system
[caffeine a stimulant], such as persistent
edginess / irritability / panic attacks /
nervous tension [which may impair
judgement and create social problems].
 Excess caffeine disrupts sleep patterns
which may impair brain functioning /
memory recall / reduce ability to
concentrate and learn.
 Excess caffeine elevates pulse / heart
works faster, harder, impairing heart
function and may lead to heart failure.
 Excess caffeine causes persistent stomach
acidity, which may damage stomach
lining, leading to ulcers.
 Excess caffeine may cause persistent
dehydration, which may lead to impaired
kidney functioning [caffeine is diuretic].
Evidence contributing to
Achievement with Excellence
As for Merit and AND
considers the addictive nature
of drinks / substances linked to
long-term damage to the body /
body systems, which reduces
quality of life and may cause
premature death.
Must mention
 Addiction
 Long term damage(to an
organ)
 Effect on the body’s
systems as a whole
 May lead to death
NCEA Level 1 Human Biology (90177) 2009 — page 3 of 3
Judgement Statement
Achievement
Achievement with Merit
2A
2M
OR
1E+1M
Achievement with Excellence
2E+1A