Exam Questions

Question 1

Describe the similarities and differences between ultrafiltration and the formation of tissue fluid

Answer 1

-small molecules are filtered out of blood
-large remain in blood
-high hydrostatic pressure in both
-blood vessels become narrower to maintain pressure

-molecules not reabsorbed by capillaries form urine, but molecules not absorbed from this tissue fluid will form lymph

Question 2

What property of the hormone hCG allow it to be detected in urine?

Answer 2

-hCG has a molecular mass of less than 69,000

Question 3

Describe the structural difference between alpha and beta glucose molecules

Answer 3

• H above ring
• OH below ring

Question 4

Compare the processes occurring in the proximal and distal convoluted tubules

Answer 4

-both use active transport
-both involve co-transport
-DCT involves uses of Na
-DCT involves ions only

Question 5

Explain why podocytes are usually unable to mitosis

Answer 5

-already specialised
-shape is too asymmetrical so can’t divide
-if it did, it would alter the size of the gaps

Question 6

What features of adult stem cells make them suitable for regeneration of tissues in the kidney?

Answer 6

-multipotent
-differentiate to become any cell type within kidney

Question 7

State 1 function of the distal convoluted tubule

Answer 7

-reabsorption of ions

Question 8

Describe how the endocrine and nervous systems work together to increase water reabsorption from the collecting duct

Answer 8

endocrine
-hypothalamus causes release of ADH from pituitary
-aldosterone released from adrenal cortex
-ADH binds to receptors on cell membranes of collecting duct cells = increases permeability

nervous
-osmoreceptors in hypothalamus detect a low WP in blood
-ADH produced in hypothalamus

Question 9

Explain why peritoneal dialysis can use active transport and diffusion while haemodialysis relies of diffusion alone

Answer 9

-peritoneal wall is made up of living cells so produces ATP to carry out active transport
-dialysis only allows diffusion

Question 10

Suggest 1 advantage and 1 disadvantage of a kidney transplant compared to dialysis

Answer 10

+ doesn’t require repeated dialysis
- hard to find donor organ

Question 11

Suggest why anabolic steroids are effective when applied to the surface of the skin

Answer 11

-skin has large SA for absorption
-skin has network of capillaries