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IB DIPLOMA

BIOLOGY
TEST
QUESTIONS
ON
HOMEOSTASIS

1.
fibres?

Arterioles in the skin contain muscle fibres which contract. What is the function of these

A.

To move capillaries further from the skin when the body is too cold

B.

To reduce blood flow to the skin when the body is too cold

C.

To move capillaries closer to the skin when the body is too warm

D.

To increase blood flow to the skin when the body is too warm
(Total 1 mark)

2.

Under what conditions is glucagon secretion increased?


A.

After fasting for a long period

B.

While resting

C.

After a meal rich in carbohydrates

D.

When the temperature falls


(Total 1 mark)

3.

Which of the following is closely associated with lowering of high body temperature?
A.

Constriction of blood vessels in the skin

B.

Vasodilation of blood vessels in the skin

C.

Increased shivering

D.

Decreased sweat production


(1)

4.

Which cells secrete insulin?


A.

-cells of the pancreas

B.

Cells of the liver

C.

-cells of the pancreas

D.

Epithelial cells of the intestine


(1)

5.

Which process decreases when the human body temperature decreases?


A.

Blood flow to the internal organs

B.

Secretion of sweat

C.

Secretion of insulin

D.

Shivering
(Total 1 mark)

6.

How do endocrine glands function when they are involved in homeostasis?


A.

They release hormones directly into the blood system.

B.

They release hormones through ducts to where they are used.

C.

They release digestive enzymes from the pancreas.

D.

They cause positive feedback in the bodys structures.


(Total 1 mark)

7.

What can be changed in the kidney over a period of time in order to carry out the process of
osmoregulation?
A.

The amount of blood flowing to the kidney

B.

The amount of fluid filtered from the blood in the glomeruli

C.

The amount of solutes selectively reabsorbed in the proximal convoluted tubule

D.

The amount of water reabsorbed in the collecting ducts


(Total 1 mark)

8.

Which best describes the role of the kidney in homeostasis?


A.

Storage of urine

B.

Producing urine at a constant rate

C.

Removing urea from the blood

D.

Maintaining the water content of the blood between narrow limits


(Total 1 mark)

9.

The diagram shows how the body regulates glucose levels in the blood.
G lu c o s e in c re a s e

X re le a s e d

G lu c o s e n o rm a l

Y re le a s e d

G lu c o s e d e c re a s e

What is Y?
A.

Amylase

B.

Insulin

C.

Glucagon

D.

Glycogen
(Total 1 mark)

10.

In thermoregulation, what would happen over a short period of time in each of these areas, if a
person was placed in water at 15C ?
Peripheral circulation

Sweat glands

Liver

Skeletal muscle

A Increased blood flow

Increased secretion Decreased temperature

Decreased shivering

B Decreased blood flow

Decreased secretion Decreased temperature

Increased shivering

C Decreased blood flow

Increased secretion No change in temperature Increased shivering

D Decreased blood flow

Decreased secretion No change in temperature Increased shivering


(Total 1 mark)

11.

Intravenous nutrition is used in patients who cannot feed by mouth. Introducing nutrients
directly into veins bypasses the rate at which the digestive system absorbs them. Scientists
studied the effect of injecting six different glucose concentrations into rats. They measured the
glucose concentration in the urine per day and the glucose concentration in blood plasma per
day. These values were compared to control rats that received the same six glucose
concentrations through the mouth. The percentage of rats that died during the experiment
(mortality) was measured. The results for all control rats orally fed with six different glucose
concentrations were the same and are shown in the table below.
Urine glucose concentration /
3
mmol dm

Blood plasma glucose


3
concentration / mmol dm

Mortality / %

10

The results for the injected rats are shown in the line graph below.

(a)

State the mortality for rats when injected with 110 mmol dm glucose.
....................................................................................................................................
(1)

(b)

Estimate the difference in blood plasma glucose concentration between rats injected with
3
145 mmol dm glucose and the blood plasma glucose concentration of control rats orally
3
fed 145 mmol dm glucose.
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
(1)

(c)

Using the data, explain the conclusions that can be drawn about the ability of the rats to
regulate blood plasma glucose levels successfully.
....................................................................................................................................
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....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
(3)

(d)

Suggest reasons for the differences between rats that were injected and the rats that were
orally fed high levels of glucose concentrations.
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....................................................................................................................................
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....................................................................................................................................
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....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 7 marks)

12.

(a)

(i)

Define the term homeostasis.


..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
5

(1)

(ii)

State which two systems are involved in the control of homeostasis.


1.

...............................................................................................................

2.

...............................................................................................................
(1)

(b)

Describe the roles of the kidney in homeostasis.


....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
(2)

(c)

Using an example, explain the role of negative feedback in homeostasis.


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....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
(3)
(Total 7 marks)

P la s m a
A D H /
pm ol dm

10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0

The plasma solute concentration, plasma antidiuretic hormone (ADH) concentration and
feelings of thirst were tested in a group of volunteers. These graphs show the relationship
between intensity of thirst, plasma ADH concentration and plasma solute concentration.

In te n s ity o f
th irs t / a rb itra ry
u n its

13.

280
290
300
310
320
P la s m a s o lu te c o n c e n tra tio n / m O s m o l k g

20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
280
290
300
310
320
P la s m a s o lu te c o n c e n tra tio n / m O s m o l k g 1

[Source: adapted from C T Thompson, et al., (1986), Clinical Science London, 71, page 651]

(a)

Identify the plasma ADH concentration at a plasma solute concentration of 300 mOsmol
1
kg using the line of best fit.
.....................................................................................................................................
(1)

(b)

Compare intensity of thirst and plasma ADH concentration.


.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(1)

(c)

Outline what would happen to plasma solute concentration and ADH concentration if a
person were to drink water to satisfy his/her thirst.
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.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(2)

(d)

State two reasons why a persons plasma solute concentration may increase.
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 6 marks)

14.

(a)

Explain briefly the principle of negative feedback in homeostasis.


....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
(3)

(b)

Draw an arrow on the diagram below to show where negative feedback occurs.
S w e a t G la n d s

D e c re a se d
T e m p e ra tu re
B ody
R e c e p to rs
T e m p e ra tu re

R e s p o n s e e .g .

S k in A rte rio le s
S k e le ta l M u s c le

D e c re a s e d S w e a tin g
D e c re a s e d B lo o d F lo w
S h iv e rin g

In c rea sed
B ody
T e m p e ra tu re
(1)

(c)

State the system used to control the response of the skin arterioles.
....................................................................................................................................
(1)
(Total 5 marks)

15.

The effect of different types of meals before exercise was tested on metabolism and
performance for twelve competitive cyclists. The cyclists ingested either high fat or high
carbohydrate meals before the start of exercise.
The test consisted of:
1 hour of cycling at half peak power (pre-load)
followed by five 10 minute incremental increases in intensity (load)
and a 50 km time trial.

The concentration of various hormones in the blood plasma of the cyclists was measured. The
graphs below indicate the change in insulin and glucagon levels before and during the cycling
test.
P re lo a d

In c re m e n ta l
te s t (lo a d )

50 km
tim e tria l

80
60
40
30
In s u lin c o n c e n tra tio n /
m U d m 3
(lo g s c a le )

20
15
10
5
K ey:

H ig h fa t
H ig h c a rb o h y d ra te

240
200
160

G lu c a g o n c o n c e n tra tio n /
n g d m 3
(lo g s c a le )

120
100
80
60
50
40
30
20
100

60

20

20
60
100
T e s t d u ra tio n / m in

140

160

[Source: Rowlands and Hopkins, International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism,
(2002), 12, page 318]

(a)
Describe the changes in insulin concentration during the course of the exercise period
for those cyclists who ate a high carbohydrate meal.
.....................................................................................................................................
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.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(2)

(b)

Compare the changes in insulin and glucagon concentration during the pre-load and
incremental test period.
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(2)

(c)

Using the data provided, outline how the changes illustrate negative feedback of insulin
and glucagon.
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 6 marks)

16.

Explain how blood glucose concentration is controlled in humans.


(Total 8 marks)

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