Topic 11.3 Kidney Review Questions
1. Define excretion.
2. Label and state the functions of the structures of the kidney.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
The nephron is the functional unit of the kidney.
Renal vein
Carries balanced blood away from the kidney.
3. Label and state the structures of the functions of the nephron.
Structure
Function
a. Renal capsule
Ultrafiltration of blood.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
In (overly) simple terms, the kidney works by forcing everything out of the blood and then selectively
reabsorbing the components which are desirable. Waste products therefore continue to the pelvis and
become part of the urine.
4. Ultrafiltration is the first step, and takes place in the renal capsule.
a. Distinguish between the afferent and efferent arterioles.

b. Identify one component of the renal capsule which is an example of an extracellular
component in animals.

c. Explain the process of ultrafiltration.




d. List three components of the blood which are not pushed into the glomerular filtrate and
state the reason why.

5. Selective reabsorption returns valuable molecules to the blood.
a. State the location of selective reabsorption in the kidney.

b. List three molecules that are recovered back into the blood by selective reabsorption.

c. Explain the significance of the following elements of selective reabsorption.
Convolutions of the tubule
Microvilli
Mitochondria
Protein pumps and channels
Osmosis
6. A major function of the kidney is to maintain the balance of water in the blood.
a. Define osmoregulation.

b. List three functions of water in animals.



c. State the location of osmoregulation in the kidney.

d. Distinguish between the descending and ascending parts of the loop of Henle.

e. Explain the role of the loop of Henle in osmoregulation.
Input:
Output:
f.
Explain the role of the collecting duct in osmoregulation.




g. ADH is a hormone used in negative feedback control of blood water balance.
i.
State the two parts of the brain involved in osmoregulation and their functions.
o
o
ii.
Describe the effects of ADH on:
The walls of the collecting duct
Water uptake into the blood
Concentration of the urine
7. Consider this data table:
a. Calculate the concentration of urea in the urine.
b. Explain why such a large proportion of urea is removed from the blood.
c. Explain why no proteins and macromolecules are present in the filtrate or urine.
d. 100% of glucose is reclaimed. Explain how this occurs.
8. Consider the urinalysis for patient B:
a. Calculate the percentage of glucose which is reuptaken to the blood.
o
b. Explain the presence of glucose in the urine of patients with diabetes. You will need to
consider two processes in your answer: glucoregulation and osmoregulation.







c. Deduce, with a reason, the effective of taking an insulin shot on the urine glucose
concentration of a patient with Type I diabetes.


d. Deduce, with a reason, the effective of taking an insulin shot on the urine glucose
concentration of a patient with Type II diabetes.


9. The plasma solute concentration, plasma antidiuretic hormone (ADH) concentration and
feelings of thirst were tested in a group of volunteers. These graphs show the relationship
between intensity of thirst, plasma ADH concentration and plasma solute concentration.
(Question taken from the QuestionBank CDRom)
Plasma
ADH /
pmol dm–3
Intensity of
thirst / arbitrary
units
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
280 290 300 310 320
Plasma solute concentration / mOsmol kg –1
20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
280 290 300 310 320
Plasma solute concentration / mOsmol kg –1
[Source: adapted from C T Thompson, et al ., (1986), Clinical Science London, 71, page 651]
(a)
Identify the plasma ADH concentration at a plasma solute concentration of 300
mOsmol kg-1 using the line of best fit.

(1)
(b)
Compare intensity of thirst and plasma ADH concentration.

(1)
(c)
Outline what would happen to plasma solute concentration and ADH concentration if
a person were to drink water to satisfy his/her thirst.


(2)
(d)
State two reasons why a person’s plasma solute concentration may increase.


(2)
(Total 6 marks)
10. The proximal convoluted tubule is a part of the nephron (kidney tubule). Its function is
selective reabsorption of substances useful to the body.
(a)
Outline how the liquid that flows through the proximal convoluted tubule is
produced.


(2)
(b)
(i)
Water and salts are selectively reabsorbed by the proximal convoluted tubule.
State the name of one other substance that is selectively reabsorbed.

(1)
(ii)
State the names of the processes used to reabsorb water and salts.
Water:
salts:
(2)
The drawing below shows the structure of a cell from the wall of the proximal convoluted
tubule.
(c)
The actual size of the cell is shown on the diagram. Calculate the linear magnification
of the drawing. Show your working.
(2)
(d)
Explain how the structure of the proximal convoluted tubule cell, as shown in the
diagram, is adapted to carry out selective re-absorption.


(2)
(Total 9 marks)
1.
The diagram below shows a longitudinal section through a kidney. What is the structure
labelled Z and what is its function?
Structure Z
Function
A.
cortex
osmoregulation
B.
medulla
ultrafiltration
C.
cortex
ultrafiltration
D.
pelvis
osmoregulation
(Total 1 mark)
2.
During urine production, what happens if the water content of the blood is too low?
A.
Membrane channels are produced in the cells of the collecting duct.
B.
The pituitary gland stops secreting ADH.
C.
The collecting duct becomes less permeable to water.
D.
Large volumes of dilute urine are formed.
(Total 1 mark)
3.
In the diagram of the nephron below, what structures are indicated by the letters Y and Z?
[Source: adapted from http://ex.susd.org/sjones/SGHL12007 files/image005.jpg]
Y
Z
A.
glomerulus
collecting duct
B.
Bowman’s capsule
collecting duct
C.
Bowman’s capsule
distal convoluted tubule
D.
glomerulus
distal convoluted tubule
(Total 1 mark)
4.
Which of the following best describes what happens in the glomerulus?
A.
Selective reabsorption of water and molecules by active transport
B.
Ultrafiltration introduces water and other molecules into the capillaries
C.
Regulation of salt balance leading to the production of urine
D.
High blood pressure forces water and other molecules into the nephron
(Total 1 mark)
5.
What does the reabsorption of glucose in the proximal tubules of the kidney require?
A.
Movement of water by osmosis out of the tubule cells
B.
Facilitated diffusion of Na+ out of the tubule cells
C.
Active transport of K+ into the tubule cells
D.
Active transport of Na+ out of the tubule cells
(Total 1 mark)
6.
In the following diagram of the kidney, which structure contains urine?
(Total 1 mark)
7.
Which structure is acted upon by ADH (vasopressin)?
A.
Proximal convoluted tubule
B.
Bowman’s capsule
C.
Loop of Henle
D.
Collecting duct
(Total 1 mark)
8.
The Bowman’s capsule is a cup-shaped structure that is part of the nephron. What is the
source of glucose in the fluid in the Bowman’s capsule?
A.
Blood in the glomerulus
B.
Urine in the renal pelvis
C.
Filtrate in the distal convoluted tubule
D.
Interstitial fluid in the medulla
(Total 1 mark)
9.
(a)
Define the term excretion.
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
(1)
(b)
Explain the process of ultrafiltration.
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
(2)
(c)
The diagram below shows part of the human kidney. The arrow shows the direction of
blood flow.
Compare the composition of the fluids found in the regions labelled I and II by giving
one difference and one similarity.
Difference: ...................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
Similarity: ....................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 5 marks)
10.
Up to two additional marks are available for the construction of your answers.
(2)
(a)
Blood is a liquid tissue containing glucose, urea, plasma proteins and other
components.
List the other components of blood.
(5)
(b)
Outline how the human body prevents blood glucose concentration from rising
excessively.
(5)
(c)
Blood plasma, glomerular filtrate and urine have different concentrations of solutes,
such as glucose, protein and urea. Explain the processes occurring in the kidney that
cause differences in the concentrations of these solutes between blood plasma,
glomerular filtrate and urine.
(8)
(Total 20 marks)
11.
Explain the role of the kidney in maintaining water balance in humans.
(9)
12.
Up to two additional marks are available for the construction of your answers.
(2)
(a)
Draw a labelled diagram showing the structure of the digestive system.
(4)
(b)
Outline the need for enzymatic hydrolysis in the digestive process.
(6)
(c)
Explain how the kidney prevents the body from losing important materials absorbed
from the digestive system.
(8)
(Total 20 marks)