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5.2 Excretion
Question Paper
Course OCR A Level Biology

Section 5. Communication, Homeostasis & Energy
Topic 5.2 Excretion
Difficulty Medium
Time allowed: 70
Score: /53
Percentage: /100
Page 1 of 15
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Question 1a
(a)
A student dissected a kidney. Fig. 1.1 shows one half of the dissected kidney.
Fig. 1.1
Draw a simple diagram of the kidney in Fig. 1.1 in the space below.
On your diagram, label the pelvis, medulla and cortex.

[2]
[2 marks]
Page 2 of 15
Question 1b
(b)
A photomicrograph of a stained section of kidney tissue is shown in Fig. 1.2.
Fig. 1.2
(i)
State one function of the distal convoluted tubule.
[1]
(ii)
Describe the function of the structures labelled A in Fig. 1.2.
[1]
(iii)
Suggest which lumen, B or C, has the highest concentration of urea. Explain your answer.
[1]
[3 marks]
Page 3 of 15
Question 1c
(c)
Water reabsorption in the kidney is controlled by the endocrine and nervous systems.
Aldosterone and ADH are hormones that act on the kidney.
Aldosterone causes sodium ions to be pumped from the collecting duct cells into tissue fluid.
Describe how the endocrine and nervous systems work together to increase water reabsorption from the collecting duct.
[6]
[6 marks]
Page 4 of 15
Question 1d
(d)
Diuretics are drugs that decrease the reabsorption of water into the blood from the kidney.
Diuretics can change the concentration of ions and other molecules in the blood.
Some diuretics are used to treat high blood pressure.
The table below lists three different diuretics, X, Y and Z, and some of their effects in the body.
Without a With a diuretic

diuretic X Y Z
Rate of urine
production 1 3 13 8
(ml min–1)
Blood chloride ion
concentration 60 15 150 150
(mmol dm–3)
Blood potassium ion
(mmol dm–3)
Blood glucose
(mmol dm–3)
(i)
Suggest which of the diuretics, X, Y or Z, would be the most effective at reducing a person’s blood pressure. Explain your
choice.
diuretic.......................................................................
explanation...............................................................
[1]
(ii)
Suggest which of the diuretics, X, Y or Z, would be the most appropriate for use by a person with type II diabetes. Explain your
choice.
diuretic...........................................................................
explanation..................................................................
[1]
[2 marks]
Page 5 of 15
Question 2a
(a)
Fig. 22.1 is a cross-section of part of the cortex of a mammalian kidney.
Image courtesy of Doc. RNDr. Josef Reischig, CSc. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Reused and distributed under conditions found at:
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0
Fig 22.1
(i)
Which letter identifies the region with the highest hydrostatic pressure?
[1]
(ii)
Which two letters identify regions that do not contain plasma proteins?
[1]
[2 marks]
Page 6 of 15
Question 2b
(b)
Studies of the cell surface membranes of the distal convoluted tubule have provided the following evidence:
Sodium-potassium pumps:
move potassium ions from the blood to the tubule fluid
move sodium ions from the tubule fluid to the blood
use ATP in these processes.
Sodium-calcium co-transport proteins:
move calcium ions from the tubule fluid to the blood
move sodium ions into the tubule fluid
use the electrochemical gradient of sodium ions to drive this process.
(i)
Using this information and your own knowledge, compare the processes occurring in the proximal and distal convoluted
tubules.
[3]
(ii)
Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus is a disease of the kidney that affects the regulation of water potential in the blood. One
cause is lithium poisoning. Lithium ions enter the kidney tubules through sodium channels.
This prevents the cells of the collecting duct from responding to ADH in the blood.
State and explain one symptom you would expect to observe as a result of nephrogenic diabetes insipidus.
[2]
[5 marks]
Page 7 of 15
Question 2c
(c)
Fig. 22.2 shows a podocyte from the kidney. The many gaps between the microscopic processes form fenestrations in the
Bowman’s capsule.
Fig. 22.2
(i)
Explain why podocytes are usually unable to undergo mitosis.
[3]
(ii)
Studies show that after damage by infection or injury, it is possible for nephron tissues to be regenerated. Adult stem cells are
involved in this process.
What features of adult stem cells make them suitable for regeneration of tissues in the kidney?
[2]
[5 marks]
Page 8 of 15
Question 3a
The process of ultrafiltration in the kidney shares similarities with the formation of tissue fluid.
(a)
Describe the similarities and differences between ultrafiltration and the formation of tissue fluid.
[6]
[6 marks]
Page 9 of 15
Question 3b
(b)
A person’s glomerular filtration rate (GFR) provides an indication of the health of their kidneys. The GFR is a measure of the
volume of blood that can be filtered by the kidneys every minute.
GFR can be estimated by monitoring the blood concentration of creatinine, which is a breakdown product of creatine
phosphate in muscles.
(i)
Suggest two characteristics of a patient that must be taken into account when using this GFR measurement to diagnose
kidney damage.
Explain why each characteristic must be considered.
[4]
(ii)
If kidney damage is suspected, the patient’s urine is likely to be tested for the protein albumin.
Explain why the presence of albumin in the urine indicates kidney damage.
[1]
[5 marks]
Page 10 of 15
Question 4a
Cirrhosis of the liver can result from long-term liver damage. Alcohol or other toxins can cause this damage.
Scientists have suggested that cirrhosis can be detected by taking samples of body fluids and testing them for two different
molecules: C-reactive protein and copeptin.
The liver produces these two molecules, and increased levels can indicate liver damage due to cirrhosis.
Different bodily fluids from a patient suspected of having cirrhosis were tested for C-reactive protein and copeptin.
Fig. 17.1 is a graph of the results.
Fig. 17.1
(a)
Different bodily fluids have different concentrations of the different molecules.
(i)
Calculate the order of magnitude by which concentration of copeptin in the faeces is higher than the concentration of C-
reactive protein in the saliva.
Show your working.
Answer = ................................ molecules cm-3 [2]
(ii)
Suggest why blood and faeces have the highest concentrations of C-reactive protein and copeptin.
[2]
[4 marks]
Page 11 of 15
Question 4b
(b)
Fig. 17.2 is an image of a Kupffer cell from the liver.
Fig. 17.2
(i)
The diameter of the Kupffer cell in the image is 9.1 cm. Assuming it is spherical, calculate the actual volume of this cell. Note
that a cm ruler has been added to Fig. 17.2.
Give your answer to four significant figures. Show your working.
[3]
(ii)
Which type of microscope has been used to obtain this image? Explain your answer.
[2]
[5 marks]
Page 12 of 15
Question 5a
(a)
Fig. 17.1 is a diagram of the external view of a mammalian liver.
Fig. 17.1
Identify, with reasons, each of the blood vessels labelled A – C in Fig. 17.1.
A .........................................
B .........................................
C .........................................
[3]
[3 marks]
Page 13 of 15
Question 5b
(b)
One of the main functions of the liver cells is the formation of urea by the ornithine cycle, an outline of which is shown in Fig.
17.2.
Fig. 17.2
(i)
Step 1 of the cycle takes place in the organelle represented by D.
Identify organelle D.
[1]
(ii)
During the cycle ornithine moves into organelle D and citrulline moves out of the organelle.
Suggest the method by which these molecules move into and out of the organelle during the cycle. Give reasons for your
choice.
[2]
(iii)
How has the ammonia that is used in step 1 been formed?
[1]
(iv)
Identify the compound labelled X in Fig. 17.2.
[1]
[5 marks]
Page 14 of 15
Page 15 of 15

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Course OCR A Level Biology

On your diagram, label the pelvis, medulla and cortex.

Aldosterone and ADH are hormones that act on the kidney.

Some diuretics are used to treat high blood pressure.

Without a With a diuretic

Explain why each characteristic must be considered.

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