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The urinary system and the kidneys: exam questions

6 questions, 16 marks. Write your answers on paper, then open each mark scheme.

Spec 7.18B–7.22B
Triple only (what this means)Triple only: only in Triple Biology. Combined Science students can skip it. What the labels mean
Questions and mark scheme (PDF)3 pages

Question 1

Triple only (what this means)Triple only: only in Triple Biology. Combined Science students can skip it. What the labels mean

Which tube carries urine from the kidney to the bladder?

  1. Urethra
  2. Renal vein
  3. Ureter
  4. Renal artery
[1 mark]
Show mark scheme for question 1

Answer: C (1)

Question 2

Triple only (what this means)Triple only: only in Triple Biology. Combined Science students can skip it. What the labels mean

State where urea is produced and what it is produced from.

[2 marks]
Show mark scheme for question 2
  • in the liver (1)
  • from the breakdown of excess amino acids (1)

Question 3

Triple only (what this means)Triple only: only in Triple Biology. Combined Science students can skip it. What the labels mean

Describe how the kidney filters blood in the glomerulus and Bowman's capsule.

[3 marks]
Show mark scheme for question 3
  • blood in the glomerulus is at high pressure (1)
  • small molecules such as water, glucose, urea and ions are forced into the Bowman's capsule (1)
  • large molecules such as proteins and blood cells stay in the blood (1)

Question 4

Triple only (what this means)Triple only: only in Triple Biology. Combined Science students can skip it. What the labels mean

Glucose is filtered at the glomerulus, but the urine of a healthy person contains no glucose. Explain why.

[3 marks]
Show mark scheme for question 4
  • all the glucose is reabsorbed (1)
  • back into the blood (1)
  • by active transport, using energy from respiration (1)

Question 5

Triple only (what this means)Triple only: only in Triple Biology. Combined Science students can skip it. What the labels mean
Higher tier (what this means)Higher tier: only on the Higher tier papers. Foundation students can skip it. What the labels mean

On a hot day a person sweats a lot and the water content of the blood falls. Explain how ADH helps to return the water content to normal.

[4 marks]
Show mark scheme for question 5
  • more ADH is released (from the pituitary gland) (1)
  • ADH makes the collecting duct more permeable to water (1)
  • more water is reabsorbed into the blood (1)
  • a small volume of concentrated urine is produced (1)

Question 6

Triple only (what this means)Triple only: only in Triple Biology. Combined Science students can skip it. What the labels mean

Describe two treatments for kidney failure.

[3 marks]
Show mark scheme for question 6
  • dialysis: blood passes through a machine, separated from dialysis fluid by a partially permeable membrane (1)
  • urea (and excess ions) pass out of the blood into the dialysis fluid (1)
  • transplant: a healthy kidney from a donor is put into the patient (1)
  • the donor kidney must be a good tissue match / the patient takes drugs to stop the immune system rejecting it (1)
  • Max 3
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