Kidneys & Osmoregulation — GCSE Biology Revision
Revise Kidneys & Osmoregulation for GCSE Biology. Step-by-step explanation, worked examples, common mistakes and exam-style practice aligned to AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC, Eduqas, CCEA, Cambridge International (CIE), SQA, IB, AP.
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Go to Temperature RegulationWhat is Kidneys & Osmoregulation?
The kidneys are vital organs that regulate the water balance of the body (osmoregulation) and excrete waste products like urea. They filter the blood to produce urine, reabsorbing the glucose, some ions and the water the body needs, while removing excess water, ions and urea. This process is controlled by the hormone ADH.
Board notes: Covered by AQA and Edexcel at the Higher tier. OCR covers the basic function of the kidneys but the role of ADH is A-Level content. The concept of negative feedback via ADH is key for AQA/Edexcel.
Step-by-step explanationWorked example
On a hot day, you sweat a lot and don't drink much water. Your pituitary gland releases more ADH. This makes your kidney tubules more permeable, so more water is reabsorbed back into your blood. You produce a small volume of concentrated, dark-coloured urine to conserve water.
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Common mistakes
- 1Confusing filtration and reabsorption. Filtration is the non-selective process where small molecules are forced out of the blood. Reabsorption is the selective process where the body takes back the useful substances it needs.
- 2Thinking that all of the filtered fluid becomes urine. The vast majority of the water, glucose and ions filtered out of the blood is reabsorbed back into it. Only the excess and waste products are left in the urine.
- 3Forgetting the role of ADH. Anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) controls the permeability of the kidney tubules to water. More ADH makes the tubules more permeable, so more water is reabsorbed, producing concentrated urine.
Kidneys & Osmoregulation exam questions
Exam-style questions for Kidneys & Osmoregulation with mark-scheme style solutions and timing practice. Aligned to AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC, Eduqas, CCEA, Cambridge International (CIE), SQA, IB, AP specifications.
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Step-by-step method
Step-by-step explanation
4 steps · Worked method for Kidneys & Osmoregulation
Core concept
The kidneys are vital organs that regulate the water balance of the body (osmoregulation) and excrete waste products like urea. They filter the blood to produce urine, reabsorbing the glucose, some io…
Frequently asked questions
What is urea?
Urea is a nitrogenous waste product produced in the liver from the breakdown of excess amino acids. It is toxic and must be removed from the body by the kidneys.
What happens in kidney failure?
In kidney failure, the kidneys can no longer filter the blood effectively, leading to a build-up of toxic waste products. Patients must be treated with either a kidney transplant or dialysis to stay alive.