Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Biology GCSE > Topic 7: The Kidney and Homeostasis > Flashcards

Topic 7: The Kidney and Homeostasis Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
GCSE Religious Studies - Edexcel Route A flashcards GCSE Religious Studies - Eduqas Route A flashcards AP® Biology flashcards GCSE Geography - AQA flashcards Biology 101 flashcards GCSE Religious Studies - Edexcel Route B flashcards GCSE Religious Studies - Eduqas Route B flashcards
1
Q

What is the role of the kidneys?

A

To regulate the water content in the blood. (osmoregulation)
To excrete the toxic waste products of metabolism.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is the function of the renal artery? (branching from aorta)

A

Supplies blood to the kidneys.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is urea?

A

A waste product resulting from the breakdown of proteins. Excreted in urine.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is urine?

A

The waste product secreted by the kidneys. Water, salts and urea are in it.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is the bladder’s function?

A

To store urine until it is convenient to expel it from the body through the urethra.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is a ureter?

A

The tube leading from the kidney to the bladder. Takes urine to bladder.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is the function of the renal vein? (branching from vena cava)

A

Drain blood from the kidneys.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is osmoregulation?

A

A type of homeostasis that maintains constant water levels in body fluids.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Why is osmoregulation important?

A

Prevents cells from bursting or shrinking when water enters/leaves my osmosis.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is a urethra?

A

This tube allows urine to pass outside the body.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is the cortex?

A

The outer layer of the kidney.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What are the medulla?

A

The inner most part of the kidney.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is the pelvis and where does it lead?

A

A large cavity that collects the urine as it is produced and leads to the ureter.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Where are the nephrons positioned?

A

With the capillary knot in the cortex and the loop of henle going into the medulla.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Where is the arterioles to/from capillary knot, capillary knot, bowman’s capsule, tubule, network of capillaries and collecting duct on a nephron?

A

Use a diagram to name them.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is the purpose of the nephrons?

A

To extract wastes from the blood to produce urine.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What are the 3 main processes in the nephron?

A

Ultrafiltration, selective reabsorption and regulation of water content.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What are the arterioles?

A

Small blood vessels that connect the arteries to the capillaries.

19
Q

Why is there high pressure in the capillary knot?

A

The diameter of the arteriole leaving the knot is narrower than the arteriole entering. Only small molecules can leave.

20
Q

What small molecules leave the blood and what molecules stay in the blood to filtration?

A

Proteins and cells leave through the arteriole with blood as they can’t fit through the walls of capillaries while water, glucose, salts and urea stay to flow through the bowman’s capsule.

21
Q

What is ultrafiltration?

A

The process where the capillary knot filters water, glucose, salts and urea from the blood.

22
Q

Where does selective reabsorption occur?

A

Throughout the tubule.

23
Q

What molecules are selectively reabsorbed into the bloodstream?

A

Glucose, some water and some salts.

24
Q

What fluid is left after filtration and selective reabsorption?

A

Urine which a mix of: (mainly) urea, water and salts.

25
Q

What does ADH stand for?

A

Anti-diuretic hormone.

26
Q

What part of the body identifies that ADH must be released?

A

The pituitary gland.

Located just beneath, but attached to, the brain).

27
Q

What does ADH do?

A

A hormone produced that causes the kidneys to release less water, decreasing the amount of urine produced.

28
Q

What happens if the blood is too dilute? (checked in nephron)

A

There will be a higher percentage of water in the urine because less water needs to be reabsorbed into the blood.

29
Q

What happens if the blood doesn’t have enough water? (checked in nephron)

A

Less water will be in the urine as more will be reabsorbed into the blood to maintain the balance. This makes the urine more concentrated and dark.

30
Q

What happens if the concentration of the blood is too high?

A

ADH is produced which will cause the kidney to reabsorb more water and produce a more concentrated urine.

31
Q

What happens if the concentration of the blood is too low?

A

ADH is not produced, so there is no signal to reabsorb more water.

32
Q

What is the process of ADH an example of?

A

Negative feedback.

33
Q

If there is glucose in the urine, how is it there and what disease can be identified?

A

There is so much glucose in the blood (no insulin) that it must be excreted through urine.
Diabetes (type 1 or 2) can be identified.

34
Q

If there is protein in urine, what can be identified (and why)?

A

That there is damage in the kidney due to proteins usually being too large to fit through the bowman’s capsule of a nephron.

35
Q

What are the 2 ways to treat kidney failure?

A

Kidney dialysis.

Kidney transplant.

36
Q

What is kidney dialysis?

A

An artificial kidney machine which patients must be attached to for long hours in the day.
It removes wastes and restores the balance of salts and water in the blood.

37
Q

What is a kidney transplant?

A

The process of placing a new kidney in the body, to make sure kidney function is restored.

38
Q

What are 2 advantages of kidney dialysis?

A
  1. It can keep a patient alive whilst they are waiting for a donor.
  2. It does not involve the major risks of surgery.
39
Q

What are 3 disadvantages of dialysis?

A
  1. The patient must spend many hours of the day hooked up to it, can’t have full time job.
  2. Strict diet, they must restrict fluid and salt intake between sessions.
  3. Dialysis machines are expensive.
40
Q

What is the process in a dialysis machine? (4 stages)

A
  1. Blood (taken from arm) and dialysate is pumped through machine.
  2. Dialysate / blood separated by selectively permeable membrane, only lets small molecules through.
  3. Salts and water use diffusion and osmosis to enter dialysate (it has less salts and water than blood).
  4. Dialysate constantly renewed.
41
Q

What is dialysate?

A

A solution containing water and salts (but less than blood so osmosis and diffusion can occur).

42
Q

What are 3 advantages of kidney transplants?

A
  1. Once transplant happens, patient no longer has diet restrictions.
  2. Dialysis are not needed anymore.
  3. Though not life-long cure, much more normal life than dialysis patient.
43
Q

What are 5 disadvantages of kidney transplants?

A
  1. It is difficult to find a donor organ with a matching tissue type.
  2. The risk of organ rejection.
  3. Must take drugs to suppress the immune system. Patient vulnerable to other diseases.
  4. Regular doctors’ appointments to detect signs of organ rejection.
  5. Major surgery required.

Biology GCSE (9 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions