Kidneys & Homeostasis (WJEC GCSE Biology): Exam Questions

Kidney transplants can save the lives of individuals with chronic kidney disease or kidney failure. In the UK in 2021, there were 2912 kidney transplants.

Individuals who receive organ transplants must take drugs to suppress their immune response. However, it is estimated that 12.5% of kidneys transplanted are still rejected in the first year after a transplant.

Calculate the number of rejected kidney transplants in 2021.

number of rejected kidney transplants =...................

Dialysis is another treatment for kidney disease.
State one disadvantage of dialysis compared with kidney transplants.

Image 8.1 shows a section through a human kidney.

Image 8.1

Draw arrows on Image 8.1 to label the following parts

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(i) the medulla;

(ii) the renal artery.

Table 8.2 shows the results of an investigation on a patient in a hospital.

Table 8.2

(i) I. Complete Table 8.2 to show which substance(s) would be present in the urine of this patient. One row has been done for you.

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II. State which one of the substances is a waste product.

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III. Doctors suggested that this patient had diabetes. From Table 8.2, state the evidence to support this suggestion.

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(ii) Describe the chemical tests which could be carried out to confirm whether or not the urine contained glucose and protein. For each test state the colours you would expect for the results shown in Table 8.2.

I. glucose test

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II. protein test

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(iii) Complete the risk assessment below which shows one hazard linked to these tests.

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Serious kidney failure can be treated using a dialysis machine or by a transplant from a donor. Table 4.1 shows a fact file about the treatment of kidney failure.

Table 4.1

Using the information in Table 4.1 and your own knowledge:

Describe the advantages of treating kidney failure by a transplant.
Describe the advantages of treating kidney failure by dialysis.
Suggest how more people could be encouraged to become donors and explain why this is necessary

Explain why the tissue type of the patient and the donor kidney must be tested before a transplant operation is carried out.

Image 7.1 shows the structure of a nephron.

Image 7.1

Use a labelled line to show the position of structure X (shown in Image 7.1) in the section through the kidney in Image 7.2.

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Image 7.2

The filtrate found at X in Image 7.1 differs from the filtrate found at Y in Image 7.1.
Describe and explain the composition of the filtrate at X and Y, identifying structures X and Y in your answer.
(No reference to ADH is required)

Protein is found in the blood in the capillary knot but is not found in the filtrate at X. Explain this observation.