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1 The diagram shows the levels of a nitrogenous waste product in the blood of a person living at
first on a low protein diet and then on a high protein diet.

concentration
of nitrogenous
waste product
in blood

low high
protein protein
diet diet

What is the waste product?

A amino acid
B nitrate
C protein
D urea
[1]

[Total: 1]

2 Urea is made in the human body and excreted in urine.

State the name of the organ that produces urea.

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[Total: 1]
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3 The kidneys filter blood, separate useful molecules from excretory wastes and control the water
content of the blood.

Diagram A is of a kidney tubule and associated blood vessels. The arrows show the direction of
blood flow.

Diagram B is a drawing of a vertical section through a cell from the lining of region 2 of the tubule.

diagram A diagram B

The structures labelled S on diagram B are microvilli.

Explain the importance of the microvilli on the surface of these cells.

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[Total: 2]

4 Urea is made in the human body and excreted in urine.

State the name of the biological molecules that are broken down to make urea.

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[Total: 1]
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5 The kidneys filter blood, separate useful molecules from excretory wastes and control the water
content of the blood.

Diagram A is of a kidney tubule and associated blood vessels. The arrows show the direction of
blood flow.

Diagram B is a drawing of a vertical section through a cell from the lining of region 2 of the tubule.

diagram A diagram B

State the name of structure P.

.................................................................................................................................................. [1]

[Total: 1]
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6 The kidneys filter blood, separate useful molecules from excretory wastes and control the water
content of the blood.

Diagram A is of a kidney tubule and associated blood vessels. The arrows show the direction of
blood flow.

Diagram B is a drawing of a vertical section through a cell from the lining of region 2 of the tubule.

diagram A diagram B

Blood vessel Q has the highest blood pressure.

Suggest why.

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[Total: 1]
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7 The kidneys filter blood, separate useful molecules from excretory wastes and control the water
content of the blood.

Diagram A is of a kidney tubule and associated blood vessels. The arrows show the direction of
blood flow.

Diagram B is a drawing of a vertical section through a cell from the lining of region 2 of the tubule.

diagram A diagram B

The table shows the concentrations of some substances in blood plasma and in the regions labelled
1 and 3 on the tubule shown in diagram A.

3
concentration / mg per cm
substance
blood plasma region 1 region 3

protein 8000 0 0

glucose 100 100 0

salts 320 320 300

urea 30 30 2000

.
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Outline how the kidney tubules function to produce urine from the substances in blood plasma.

Use the information in diagram A, diagram B and the table to support your answer.

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[Total: 6]
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8 The diagram is of part of the human excretory system and associated blood vessels.

State the names of parts P, Q and R in the diagram.

P ...............................................................................................................................................

Q ..............................................................................................................................................

R .............................................................................................................................................. [3]

[Total: 3]
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9 The box on the left shows the beginning of a sentence.

The boxes on the right show some sentence endings.

Draw two straight lines from ‘Excretion’ to the boxes on the right to make two correct sentences.

is the movement of digested food molecules into cells.

is the passing out of undigested food from an organism.

Excretion is the removal of excess substances from an organism.

is the removal of toxic materials from an organism.

is the taking in of materials for energy and growth.

[2]

[Total: 2]

10 Protein can be broken down into amino acids.

State the name of the organ in the human body that breaks down excess amino acids.

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[Total: 1]
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11 The volume and concentration of urine produced is affected by changes in water consumption,
temperature and exercise levels.

The table shows three different conditions.

Complete the table by writing increases or decreases in the boxes to show the effect of each
condition on the volume and concentration of urine produced.

condition volume of urine concentratiion of urine

increase in water consumption

increase in temperature

increase in exercise level

[3]

[Total: 3]

12 The kidney filters the blood and produces a liquid called urine.

State three substances that are found in the urine of a healthy person.

1 ...............................................................................................................................................

2 ...............................................................................................................................................

3 ............................................................................................................................................... [3]

[Total: 3]
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13 Urea is a toxin that is excreted by the kidneys in humans.

Describe how and where in the body urea is formed.

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[Total: 3]

14 Doctors wanted to investigate the effect of exercise on the excretion of salts.

They collected urine from people before and after running a long distance on a hot day.

The results of their investigation are shown in the table.

before running after running

3
average volume of urine / cm 1156.0 569.0

average concentration of sodium in urine /

3 85.6 78.2
mmol per dm

Calculate the percentage decrease in the average sodium concentration after running compared
with before running.

Give your answer to one significant figure.

Space for working.

.............................................. % [3]

[Total: 3]
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15 Doctors wanted to investigate the effect of exercise on the excretion of salts.

They collected urine from people before and after running a long distance on a hot day.

The results of their investigation are shown in the table.

before running after running

3
average volume of urine / cm 1156.0 569.0

average concentration of sodium in urine /

3 85.6 78.2
mmol per dm

Suggest why there is a difference in the volume of urine produced before running compared with
after running.

Use the information in the table in your answer.

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[Total: 2]
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16 The diagram shows part of the human excretory system and associated blood vessels.

The arrows indicate the direction of blood flow.

The table contains statements about the labelled structures in the diagram.

Complete the table by:

• stating the name of the structure

• identifying the letter that labels that structure.

description name of structure letter from diagram

organ that stores urine

tube that carries urine out of the

kidney

blood vessel with the lowest

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concentration of urea

blood vessel with the lowest

concentration of carbon dioxide

tube that carries urine out of the

body

[5]

[Total: 5]

17 Describe how the kidney tubules enable the excretion of salts.

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[Total: 3]
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18 The diagram shows part of the human excretory system and associated blood vessels.

The arrows indicate the direction of blood flow.

Draw a label line and the letter X on the diagram to show the location of the cortex in one of the
kidneys. [1]

[Total: 1]

19 Urea is excreted.

State the name of the substance that urea is made from.

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[Total: 1]

20 Urea is excreted.

State where in the body urea is made.

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[Total: 1]
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21 Urine produced by the kidneys contains three excretory substances: urea, water and mineral salts.

The table shows the average mass of urea, water and mineral salts in 100 g of blood plasma and
in 100 g of urine.

average mass / g
substance
in 100 g of blood plasma in 100 g of urine

water 90.00 95.00

urea 0.03 2.00
mineral salts 0.69 1.35

Calculate the percentage increase in the average mass of mineral salts between blood plasma and
urine.

Give your answer to two decimal places.

Space for working.

.............................................. % [3]

[Total: 3]
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22 The diagram shows some of the structures involved in excretion.

Complete the diagram by labelling the structures in the spaces provided.

Choose structures from the list:

bladder bronchus heart liver lung

pancreas trachea ureter urethra [5]

[Total: 5]
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23 All organisms must maintain a balance between water gain and water loss.

State three ways in which the human body may lose water.

1 ...............................................................................................................................................

2 ...............................................................................................................................................

3 ............................................................................................................................................... [3]

[Total: 3]

24 Water and salt are reabsorbed in the kidneys.

State the name of one other molecule that is also reabsorbed in kidney tubules.

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[Total: 1]

25 The table shows some comparisons between a human and a mouse.

feature human mouse

body mass / kg 60.0 0.025

kidney mass / g 320.0 0.310

3
water intake / dm per day 1.5 0.005
3
water reabsorption / dm per day 179.0 0.168

salt filtration rate / g per day 580.0 0.556

salt reabsorption / g per day 575.0 0.551

The table shows that water is reabsorbed in the kidneys of both humans and mice.

State the name of the process that mammals use to reabsorb water.

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[Total: 1]

26 Kidneys are important for excretion.

Explain the purpose of excretion.

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[Total: 2]

27 Kidneys are important for excretion.

Sketch a simple diagram of a human kidney and its ureter.

Label the cortex, medulla and ureter on your diagram.

[2]

[Total: 2]
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28 Mineral salts are an important component of a balanced diet.

Consuming too much of some mineral salts, such as sodium chloride, increases the risk of developing
coronary heart disease (CHD).

Doctors studied the effect of diet on the risk of developing CHD.

The doctors first selected volunteers who had a high salt diet.

The doctors assessed the volunteers’ overall risk of developing CHD and monitored their blood
pressure.

The doctors used urine tests to identify volunteers who had a high salt diet.

Explain why urine tests are a good indicator of how much salt has been consumed.

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[Total: 2]
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29 The photomicrograph is of a glomerulus in a kidney.

Describe the role of the glomerulus.

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[Total: 2]
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30 The photomicrograph is of a glomerulus in a kidney.

Describe the structure of a glomerulus.

You may refer to the photomicrograph in your answer.

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[Total: 2]