The role of the kidneys in osmoregulation

Question 1

What is osmoregulation?

Answer 1

maintaining a constant water potential of the blood, despite changes in the level of water and salt intake.

Question 2

The kidneys are made of … which …

Answer 2

nephrons help filter the blood

Question 3

1. ultrafiltration

Answer 3

blood undergoes ultrafiltration at the glomerulus due to the smaller diameter of the efferent arteriole than the afferent arteriole, creating high hydrostatic pressure.

Question 4

2. bowman’s capsule

Answer 4

filtrate from glomerulus passes into the Bowman’s capsule and travels around the entire nephron, where certain ions and water are reabsorbed into the blood whilst the remaining filtrate is excreted as urine.

Question 5

3. The proximal convoluted tubule

Answer 5

Sodium is actively transported out of the proximal convoluted tubule and into the blood Glucose & amino acids are co-transported out of the proximal convoluted tubule via sodium ions diffusing into the epithelial cells.

Question 6

Kidney structure

Answer 6

see photo

Question 7

Nephron structure

Answer 7

see photo

Question 8

Proximal convoluted tubule structure

Answer 8

see photo