3.6.4.3.

L5 Control of
water potential
Keywords: Osmoregulation, nephron, Bowmans capsule
L5 Control of water potential

Knowledge recall (definition challenge- key principles):

Q1) Surface are to volume ratio (SA:Vol)
Q2) Magnification and resolution
Q3) Hydrogen bonding in water
Q4) Differences and significance of α and β glucose
Q5) Triglycerides and saturated and unsaturated fatty acids
Knowledge recall answers
Q1) Surface are to volume ratio (SA:Vol) A measure of the surface area of
an organism in relation to its overall volume. The greater the diameter of
a unicellular organism, the less surface area it has relative to its volume.
Q2) Magnification and resolution Magnification is the number of times
that an image is bigger than the specimen.
Resolution is the ability to distinguish between two objects.
Q3) Hydrogen bonding in water A bond (electrostatic attraction) which
holds one molecule of water to another and largely accounts for the
unusual properties of water.
Knowledge recall answers
Q4) Differences and significance of α and β glucose Glucose is a hexose
sugar that exists in two biologically important forms: α and β (Down on
carbon 1 (alpha) and up on carbon 1 (beta)).

Q5) Triglycerides and saturated and unsaturated fatty acids

Triglycerides are major components of plant and animal lipids. They are
composed of a glycerol molecule joined to three fatty acids. These fatty
acids can be saturated (no double bonds) or unsaturated (at least 1 double
bond).
 Checklist check!
Tick off any new learning outcomes you can meet
on your PLC.
 • Describe the structure of
Learning the mammalian kidney
objectives • Describe the structure of
the neurone
What does our
kidney do?
The mammalian kidney is a
R
bean-shaped organ that is
found in the abdomen, which
manages the filtering of waste L

products from the blood and

regulating electrolyte balance
and blood pressure.
 What does our kidney do?

Fun fact!
The kidneys also help to regulate red blood cell production by
releasing a hormone called erythropoietin.
When oxygen levels in the body are low, the kidneys produce
more erythropoietin which signals the bone marrow to
produce more red blood cells.
Majority of the salt lost is through our urine!
 Osmoregulation

• The process by which the kidney maintains the proper balance of water and electrolytes
(such as sodium, potassium, and chloride) in the body.
• This is accomplished through a combination of reabsorption and secretion of these
substances in the renal tubules. The renal tubules are specialized structures in the kidney
that are responsible for filtering blood and regulating the composition of the urine.
• The renal tubules reabsorb necessary electrolytes and water, and secrete excess
electrolytes and water. This process helps to maintain the proper balance of fluids in the
body and regulate blood pressure, which is essential for maintaining homeostasis.
Structure of the mammalian kidney

The renal artery brings blood to the kidney, which then flows through a series of
filtering units called nephrons.

Each nephron has a renal corpuscle, which is a Bowman's capsule surrounding a

glomerulus, and a renal tubule.

The Bowman's capsule filters the blood, and the renal tubule reabsorbs necessary
molecules and releases waste products into the collecting duct, which then empties
into the ureter and ultimately the bladder.
Structure of a mammalian kidney

TASK: Label your

kidney while
watching the video
Structure of a mammalian kidney

SA your
answers
Now identify the functions of each prt of the kidney

Brings blood from the kidney to the unit of the kidney that produces
heart urine by removing waste and
excess substances from the blood

Brings blood to the kidney from the

heart
Regulate concentration of urine

Where nephrons begin

urine passes through to the

Helps to support the kidney mass bladder
and protect the vital tissue from
injury

Collects urine before it passes down

to the bladder
Structure of a mammalian kidney
Renal vein Nephron
Brings blood from the kidney to the unit of the kidney that produces
heart urine by removing waste and
excess substances from the blood
Renal artery
Brings blood to the kidney from the
heart Medulla
Regulate concentration of urine
Cortex
Where nephrons begin
Ureter
Fibrous capsule urine passes through to the
Helps to support the kidney mass bladder
and protect the vital tissue from
injury

Pelvis
Collects urine before it passes down
to the bladder
 Structure of the nephron
We are going to take a look at the structure of the nephron and find out how it
functions.

Reab
i l t e r TASK: Think-pair-share sor b
F

What type of activities will the nephron need to do in order

to produce urine?

Secrete c re te
Ex
Structure of th
e nephron
Going back in pairs, decide where the
following may take place:

Filtration
Excretion
Reabsorption
Secretion
Structure of th
e nephron
Going back in pairs, decide where the
following may take place:

Filtration: The glomerulus

Reabsorption: Renal Tubules
Secretion: Renal Tubules
How water is reabsorbed (gap fill)

Blood is _______ through the glomeruli, small clusters of blood vessels

in the kidney, to _______ waste products and excess fluid. The filtered
fluid, or filtrate, then passes through the ______ _________ where
water, glucose, and electrolytes are ___________ back into the
bloodstream. _______ products and toxins are then actively transported
from the blood into the filtrate by the renal tubules. Lastly, the
remaining filtrate, now containing mostly waste products and toxins, is
eventually ________ as urine.
 SA answers

Blood is filtered through the glomeruli, small clusters of blood vessels

in the kidney, to remove waste products and excess fluid. The filtered
fluid, or filtrate, then passes through the renal tubules where water,
glucose, and electrolytes are reabsorbed back into the bloodstream.
Waste products and toxins are then actively transported from the blood
into the filtrate by the renal tubules. Lastly, the remaining filtrate, now
containing mostly waste products and toxins, is eventually excreted as
urine.
Research task
Go to JW11 and find out what the following structures do:

-Bowmans capsule
-Proximal convoluted tubule
-Loop of Henle
-Distal convoluted tubule
-Collecting duct
-Afferent arteriole
-Glomerulus
-Efferent arteriole
-Blood capillaries
Plenary

Write down 1 thing you

learnt today and 1
question.
Plenary

Now give your question to

the person next to you,
who will have to give you
the answer next lesson.