HOMEOSTASIS

PRACTICE QUESTIONS
TOTAL = 50 MARKS

Multiple-choice (10 marks)

Suggested working time: 10 minutes.

1. The carotid body found in the carotid artery is an example of a/an

a) thermoreceptor
b) chemoreceptor
c) osmoreceptor
d) proprioceptor

2. When you hold your breath, which of the following blood gas changes first stimulates you to
breathe?

a) Falling oxygen
b) Rising carbon dioxide
c) Falling hydrogen ions
d) Rising carbon dioxide and falling oxygen

3. The receptor responsible for detecting changes in blood sugar level is?

a) the liver
b) the Islets of Langerhans in the pancreas
c) the adrenal glands
d) the hypothalamus

4. Which of the following BEST describes the ‘receptor’ in a feedback loop?

a) A change in the internal environment.

b) The structure that coordinates a response.
c) The structure that detects a change in the environment.
d) Action carried out by an organ in response to change in environment.
5. During an experiment on how the levels of carbon dioxide in the blood stream affect
breathing rate the following results were obtained

normal breathing after rebreathing air from

a paper bag
% of CO2 in the bag 0.003 4
Depth of breathing 670mL 890mL
Rate of breathing 15 breaths/min 20 breaths/min

Using the data above what is the person’s approximate percentage change in breathing
rate from normal to rebreathing?

a) 75%
b) 25%
c) 33%
d) 13%

The next three questions relate to the following diagram of a kidney nephron

6. In a normal person the concentration of urea would be greatest in region

a) 1
b) 2
c) 3
d) 6

7. If the concentration of substance X is 0.01g/L at 3 and 0.0001g/L at point 6 then substance X

was probably

a) converted into urine

b) reabsorbed in the tubules
c) secreted by the tubule cells
d) metabolized

8. ADH would have the effect of increasing the permeability to water of region

a) 1
b) 2
c) 4
d) 5
9. Which one of the following statements regarding glucose regulation is INCORRECT?

a) Glycogenolysis is stimulated by glucagon when blood glucose levels are high

b) Gluconeogenesis is stimulated by glucagon when blood glucose levels are low
c) Glycogenesis is stimulated by insulin when glucose levels are high
d) Glycogen is converted into glucose under the influence of cortisol

Thermoreceptors
 

Rise in body temperature X

 

Decrease in body temperature  Vasodilation / Sweating

10. In the flow chart drawn above, which of the following words would correctly fill in the blank
marked X?

a) Medulla
b) Hypothalamus
c) Vasoconstriction
d) Skin
Short Answer [30 marks]

Suggested working time: 30 minutes

Question 16 (6 marks)

The graph below shows the fluctuations in the solute concentration of tissue fluid over time.

(b) Draw in the optimal intercellular fluid concentration line onto the graph above. (1 mark)

(c) State two mechanisms the body might employ at point A on the graph to decrease
intercellular fluid solute concentration. (2 marks)

(d) At one point, the person’s intercellular fluid concentration seems to have dropped outside
the normal range. What effect do you predict this would have on osmotic pressure in the
circulatory system? (1 mark)

________________________________________________________________________

(e) Specify the ‘effector’ and ‘response’ of a feedback loop involving increased secretion of
ADH. (2 marks)
Question 17 - refer to the flowchart below. (10 marks)

Decreased blood Increased blood

glucose glucose

alpha PANCREAS beta

cells cells

Secrete 1 secrete 4

2 in liver glucose in blood

Converted to 3 stored as 5 in 6

(a) Provide the correct words to match the numbers on the flow chart above that illustrates the
role of the pancreas in blood sugar regulation. (3 marks)

1.

2.

3.

(b) Name the process where glucose is converted to substance 5. (1 mark)

__________________________________________

(c) In a normal feedback loop involving substance 4, the feedback is described as ‘negative’.
Explain why the word ‘negative’ is used in this situation. (2 marks)

(d) Explain two ways the muscular system can play a role in blood glucose regulation as a
consequence of the action of two different hormones. (4 marks)

1.
 2.

Question 18 (6 marks)

A swimmer completed ten lengths of an Olympic sized swimming pool and found that her breathing
rate had increased remarkably. After several minutes her breathing rate had returned to normal.

a) Define the modulator which regulates breathing rate. (1 marks)

________________________________________________________________________

b) Name two (2) structures from which the modulator receives information. (1 mark)

c) Define the effector(s) and describe the response that results in an increased breathing rate.
(3 marks)

d) After completing the exercise, the swimmer’s breathing would begin to return to normal.
Describe one (1) factor that would contribute to the initiation of this change (1 mark)

Question 19 (8 marks)

a) Complete the following table to contrast two conditions, which disrupt homeostasis. (6 marks)
 Name of Main Cause Common Treatment
condition Signs / Symptoms
Regular monitoring of
blood glucose levels,
insulin injections.

cold intolerance, gradual

weight gain, fatigue and
‘goitre’.

b) Specify two differences between the two types of ‘sugar diabetes’. (2 marks)

Extended Response

Suggested time – 15 min

Question 25 (10 Marks)

Explain how the nervous and endocrine systems typically act to maintain homeostasis
when core body temperature is in danger of falling below the tolerance limits. Ensure your
answer includes one nervous mechanism and one endocrine mechanism.