1
1 mark
1 markWhich of the following cells in the pancreas secrete insulin?
Alpha cells
Beta cells
Exocrine cells
All of the above
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Syllabus Edition
First teaching 2023
First exams 2025
|
Homeostasis (HL IB Biology)
Exam Questions
3 hours31 questions21 mark
1 markWhich of the following statements (I - IV) correctly describe Type I diabetes?
I. It usually develops in those aged 40 and over, however more and more young people are developing the condition.
II. It is a condition in which the pancreas fails to produce sufficient insulin to control blood glucose levels.
III. It is normally treated with regular blood tests to check glucose levels, insulin injections, and a diabetes-appropriate diet.
IV. It is more common than Type II diabetes.
II and III
II, III and IV
I, III and IV
I and II
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31 mark
Which row in the table correctly identifies the structures labelled 1-4 in the diagram of a nephron?
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| A. | Glomerulus | Afferent arteriole | Loop of Henle | Collecting duct |
| B. | Glomerulus | Efferent arteriole | Proximal convoluted tubule | Collecting duct |
| C. | Bowman's capsule | Efferent arteriole | Loop of Henle | Distal convoluted tubule |
| D. | Bowman's capsule | Afferent arteriole | Proximal convoluted tubule | Renal pelvis |
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11 mark
1 markWhich of the following are roles of thyroxin?
- Targets metabolically active regions, such as adipose tissue.
- Increase the rate of protein synthesis.
- Inhibits the appetite and reduces food intake.
- Increase the generation of body heat.
II only
I and II only
II and IV only
I, II, III and IV
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21 mark
1 markA one year old child displays fatigue and excessive thirst over a period of time. A urine test reveals the presence of glucose.
Which of the following would be the most likely diagnosis?
Type I diabetes as the body is unable to respond to the presence of insulin.
Type I diabetes as the beta cells in the islets of Langerhans were destroyed.
Type II diabetes as the body does not have sufficient insulin receptors on target cells.
Type II diabetes as the alpha cells in the islets of Langerhans was destroyed.
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31 mark
1 markIn which of the following scenarios would there be an increase in the breakdown of glycogen in the liver?
When the beta cells of the islets of Langerhans secrete insulin.
When the beta cells of the islets of Langerhans secrete glucagon.
After eating a meal high in carbohydrates.
When the alpha cells of the islets of Langerhans secrete glucagon.
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41 mark
Which of the following is not a reason why organisms need to maintain a safe balance of water and solutes in their cells?
Cell damage might occur due to osmosis.
Cells with a higher osmolarity than their surroundings will lose water and shrink.
Cells with a higher osmolarity than their surroundings will gain water and could burst.
Cells with a lower osmolarity than their surroundings will lose water and shrink.
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51 mark
Which of the following statements describe features that aid the process of ultrafiltration?
- The glomerulus has an afferent arteriole and an efferent arteriole.
- The blood in the afferent arteriole has a different composition to the blood in the efferent arteriole.
- The basement membrane prevents the passage of large proteins out of the glomerulus.
- The afferent arteriole is wider than the efferent arteriole.
I and II only
II and III only
III only
III and IV only
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61 mark
The image below shows a section through the lining of the glomerulus and Bowman’s capsule.
Identify the structures labelled 1-4 in the image above.
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
|
| A |
Podocyte |
Basement membrane |
Capillary endothelium |
Inside of capillary |
| B |
Fenestration in the basement membrane |
Capillary endothelium |
Podocyte |
Bowman’s capsule lumen |
| C |
Fenestration in the capillary endothelium |
Basement membrane |
Podocyte |
Bowman’s capsule lumen |
| D |
Fenestration in the capillary endothelium |
Basement membrane |
Podocyte |
Inside of proximal convoluted tubule |
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71 mark
The table below shows the composition of blood plasma as it enters the glomerulus.
| Concentration / mol dm-3 OR mg dm-3 | |
| Urea | 5 |
| Na+ ions | 150 |
| Glucose | 5 |
| Protein* | 740 |
Which of the following is a possible correct composition of the glomerular filtrate of a healthy individual?
| Urea | Na+ ions | Glucose | Protein | |
| A | 5 | 150 | 5 | 740 |
| B | 5 | 150 | 5 | 2 |
| C | 5 | 6 | 5 | 740 |
| D | 5 | 6 | 5 | 2 |
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81 mark
Water leaves the descending limb of the loop of Henlé by osmosis.
Which is the correct reason for this?
Ions are pumped out of the ascending limb of the loop of Henlé, raising the osmolarity of the surrounding medulla.
Ions are pumped out of the descending limb of the loop of Henlé, raising the osmolarity of the surrounding medulla.
Ions are pumped out of the ascending limb of the loop of Henlé, lowering the osmolarity of the surrounding medulla.
Water is reabsorbed into the vasa recta from the surrounding medulla.
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91 mark
Which is the correct explanation for the relationship between urine solute concentration and relative medullary thickness shown in the graph below?
A thicker medulla provides space for more kidney nephrons.
A thicker medulla allows for longer kidney nephrons.
A thicker medulla allows for longer loops of Henlé.
A thicker medulla allows more blood to be filtered by the kidney.
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101 mark
The image below shows the appearance of the cells that line the collecting duct when a healthy human has high blood water content (A) and low blood water content (B). Note that aquaporins are transport proteins that allow the passage of water molecules.
Which of the following correctly explains the difference between the collecting duct cells of individual A and individual B?
There is more ADH in the blood of individual B.
There is less ADH in the blood of individual B.
Individual B has a longer loop of Henlé.
The collecting duct of individual B descends further into the medulla where the concentration gradient is steepest.
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11 mark
The graph below shows the filtration, reabsorption, and excretion of glucose by the kidneys at different plasma glucose concentrations. Note that a healthy blood glucose concentration is around 100 mg 100 ml-1. 
Which of the following is not a correct conclusion from the graph?
The maximum rate at which the kidneys can reabsorb glucose is 300 mg min-1.
Glucose in the urine can be normal for a healthy individual.
At plasma glucose concentrations higher than 300 mg 100 ml-1:
filtration rate - reabsorption rate = excretion rate.
At a plasma glucose concentration of around 200 mg 100 ml-1 the glucose transporters in the proximal convoluted tubule become fully saturated.
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21 mark
Nephrogenic syndrome of inappropriate antidiuresis (NSIAD) is a rare condition that can be caused by a gain-of-function mutation in the gene that codes for ADH receptor proteins. This means that sufferers of the condition will produce more ADH receptors or will produce ADH receptors that are more sensitive than normal.
Which of the following will not be true for sufferers of NSIAD?
The kidney cells will respond to ADH even when ADH levels are low.
The body cells will swell up.
The kidney cells will have more water transport proteins in their cell surface membranes than normal.
Large amounts of dilute urine will be produced.
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