Unit 5: Homeostasis and Response

Topics included:
B10: The Nervous System
B11: Hormonal Coordination
B12: Homeostasis in Action

Q1.
A person’s eyes can focus on objects at different distances.

A person looks at a distant object.

The person then looks at a near object.

The person’s eyes make adjustments so that the near object forms a clear image.

(a) Which term describes the adjustment of focus from the distant object to the near
object?

Tick (✓) one box.

Accommodation

Adaptation

Hyperopia

Myopia

(1)

The figure below shows the eye.

(b) Which structure in the figure above is where the image is focused?

Tick (✓) one box.

A B C D E

(1)

(c) Which structure in the figure above is a muscle that contracts when focusing on a
near object?

Tick (✓) one box.

A B C D E

(1)

(d) What happens to the shape of the lens when focusing on a near object?

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(1)

(e) The eyes can function in dimly-lit areas and in brightly-lit areas.

The iris contains muscles.

Describe how muscles in the iris help the person to see clearly when moving from a
dimly-lit area to a brightly-lit area.

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(2)

(f) It is important to be able to react quickly.

Many people think that drinking coffee decreases reaction time.

Plan an investigation to test the effect of drinking coffee on reaction time.

You should include:

• the test for reaction time that you would use
• how to make the investigation valid.
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(4)
(Total 10 marks)

Q2.
The kidneys filter the blood.

Figure 1 shows filtration in the kidney.

Figure 1
(a) Glucose molecules are found in the blood plasma and in the filtrate.

Protein molecules are only found in the blood plasma.

Draw one line from each substance to the reason for where the substance
is found.

Substance Reason

The molecules are too large

to pass through the filter

Glucose

The molecules are small

enough to pass through the
filter

Protein
The molecules are too small
to pass through the filter
(2)

(b) The kidneys control the volume of water in the body.

The table below shows information about a person on one day.

Volume in dm3

Water filtered from

160.0
blood

Water lost in urine 1.9

Calculate the volume of water reabsorbed into the blood.

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Volume = _______________ dm3

(1)
(c) A person with kidney disease may be treated by dialysis or by having a
kidney transplant.

Figure 2 gives information about dialysis and kidney transplants.

Figure 2

Dialysis
• A person needs 3 dialysis sessions a week, with each session
lasting about 8 hours.
• Most patients have dialysis in hospital.
• Protein and salt levels in food must be kept low.
• Dialysis costs £35 000 per year for each patient.

Kidney transplant
• In a surgical operation the use of a general anaesthetic can
occasionally cause damage to other organs.
• After a transplant the patient must take drugs for the rest of
their life to suppress the immune system.
• A transplant costs £17 000 in the first year and then £5 000 in
each of the following years for drugs.
• The transplanted kidney will work well for about 10 years.

A doctor states:

‘It is better to treat a person with kidney disease by

using a kidney transplant rather than by dialysis.’

Evaluate the doctor’s statement.

Use information from Figure 2.

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(6)

(d) A kidney transplant costs £17 000 in the first year and then £5 000 in each of the
following years for drugs.

Calculate the total cost of treatment by kidney transplant over the first 5 years.

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Total cost = £ _______________

(3)
(Total 12 marks)

Q3.
Hormones are important for regulating the menstrual cycle.

During the menstrual cycle, eggs mature inside follicles in the ovaries.

A 27-year-old woman was infertile.

A doctor tested a sample of the woman’s blood.

The test did not detect any follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in the woman’s blood.

The doctor gave the woman daily injections of FSH for 7 days.

The doctor measured:

• the concentration of FSH in the woman’s blood
• the concentration of oestrogen in the woman’s blood
• the volumes of developing follicles in the ovaries.
The figure below shows the results.

(a) Give evidence from the figure that the follicles in the ovaries release oestrogen.

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(1)

(b) Injection of FSH caused the development of a number of follicles.

The mean diameter of the follicles on day 11 was 22 millimetres.

Calculate the number of follicles in the woman’s ovaries on day 11.

Assume each follicle is a sphere.

Volume of a sphere =

r = radius
π = 3.14
Give your answer to the nearest whole number.
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Number of follicles (to the nearest whole number) = ____________________

(5)

(c) Before treatment with FSH, the woman had underdeveloped breasts.

Explain why the lack of FSH in the woman’s blood caused underdeveloped breasts.

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(2)

(d) Usually males and females both produce FSH.

The woman had inherited a faulty gene for FSH production from each of her parents.

The woman’s parents both produce FSH.

Show how the woman’s parents could have a child that does not produce FSH.

You should:
• draw a Punnett square diagram
• identify the phenotype of each offspring genotype
• use the symbols below:
H = allele for making FSH
h = allele for not making FSH
(3)
 (e) The woman continues to have injections of FSH.

The woman has a child with a man who is heterozygous for the FSH gene.

Explain why the probability that the child will be able to produce FSH is 0.5.

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(3)
(Total 14 marks)

Q4.
In the human female, an egg is released from one of the ovaries about once every four
weeks.

During the four weeks, the lining of the uterus thickens and then breaks down.

This is called the menstrual cycle.

(a) Which two hormones are female reproductive hormones?

Tick (✓) two boxes.

Adrenaline

Oestrogen

Progesterone

Testosterone

Thyroxine

(2)

(b) Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) is another female reproductive hormone.

What is the function of FSH in the menstrual cycle?

 Tick (✓) one box.

FSH causes an egg to mature in the ovary.

FSH causes breast development.

FSH causes the uterus lining to break down.

(1)

(c) Sperm cells can survive inside a woman’s reproductive organs for five days.

An egg cell can survive for one day after ovulation.

In one woman ovulation occurred on day 14.

Give the range of days on which sexual intercourse could result in fertilisation.

From day _______________ to day _______________

(1)

(d) If a man and a woman have sexual intercourse and do not want to produce a baby,
they may use contraception.

Explain how different methods of contraception prevent pregnancy.

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(6)
(Total 10 marks)
Marking Schemes

Q1.
(a) accommodation
1

(b) B
1

(c) E
1

(d) becomes fatter / thicker / wider

allow more convex / curved / rounded
ignore larger / smaller
1

(e) any two from:

• (muscles in the iris) contract

allow (muscles in the iris) shorten
ignore circular / radial muscles
ignore (muscles in the iris) relax
do not accept ciliary muscles contract

• reduce size of pupil

allow constrict pupil
allow reduce size of aperture / gap /
hole

• reduces (amount of) light entering

allow reduces (amount of) light reaching
retina
2

(f) Level 2: The method would lead to the production of a valid

outcome. The key steps are identified and logically sequenced.
3−4

Level 1: The method would not necessarily lead to a valid outcome.

Most steps are identified, but the method is not fully logically
sequenced.
1−2

No relevant content
0

Indicative content

• identification of method eg ruler drop

• correct details of method chosen eg hold ruler above thumb
 • repetitions – at least two more times
• repeat with (at least 2 more) other students

• tested without coffee and with coffee or with different amounts

of coffee
• calculate mean value with coffee and without coffee
• compare results with and without coffee

• correct control variables for method chosen, eg:

o same age
o sex
o BMI
o amount of sleep
o volume / concentration / type of coffee
o time interval between drinking and testing
o control variable within method described

For Level 2 reference to collecting results with and without coffee

along with how the investigation is designed to create valid results is
required
[10]

Q2.
(a)

do not accept more than one line from a box on the

left
2

(b) 158.1 (dm3)

1

(c) Level 3: A judgement, strongly linked and logically supported by a

sufficient range of correct reasons, is given.
5−6

Level 2: Some logically linked reasons are given. There may also be
a simple judgement.
3−4

Level 1: Relevant points are made. They are not logically linked.
1−2
 No relevant content
0

Indicative content

points for transplant:

• transplant is cheaper
• numerical comparison, eg £18 000 cheaper in first year and
£30 000 cheaper in subsequent years
• less / no inconvenience, eg time or cost for hospital visits
• less / no restriction on lifestyle
• less / no restriction on diet or fluid intake
• no danger of infection from eg puncturing skin or blood in
contact with machine
• less / no possibility of blood clots
• no need to take anti-clotting drugs
• transplanted kidney keeps water / urea / ions in blood at correct
level at all times
• feel well all the time

points against transplant:

• danger of rejection
• need tissue match for transplant
• donors in short supply
• possibility of organ damage due to anaesthetic
• possibility of infection in surgery
• possibility of damage due to surgery
• need to take immunosuppressant drugs
• may suffer other infections due to suppressed immune system
• may need repeat operation (after about 10 years)

For Level 3 students should refer to both points for and points
against.

(d) 4 × 5 000 = 20 000

1

20 000 + 17 000
allow 25 000 + 17 000
1

(£) 37 000
allow (25 000 + 17 000) = (£) 42 000
1
[12]

Q3.
(a) as volume of follicles rises oestrogen concentration (in blood) rises (for 7 /
8 days)
allow (positive) correlation between
oestrogen concentration and volume of
follicles (for 7 / 8 days)
 or oestrogen concentration is in
proportion to follicle volume (for 7 / 8
days)
do not accept an increase of oestrogen
concentration causes an increase of
follicle volume
1

(b) (volume of one follicle)

= × 3.14 × 113

allow × π × 113
1

= 5572.(4533)
allow 5575(.279…)
1

(total volume of follicles) = 39 000 (mm3)

1

6.99…
allow use of an incorrect volume (from
Figure 12) and / or an incorrectly
calculated volume of one follicle
1

7
do not accept 7.0
1

(c) (lack of FSH causes) lack of oestrogen (production)

allow lack of FSH causes lack of follicle
development / growth / maturation
1

breast development is dependent on oestrogen (from follicles)

allow (female) secondary sexual
characteristics are dependent on
oestrogen (from follicles)
1

(d) gametes correct:

H + h and H + h
1

correct derivation of offspring genotypes:

HH Hh Hh hh
allow correct for gametes stated in mp1
1

correct phenotype for each genotype

allow correct for genotypes stated in
 mp2
do not accept if no hh offspring
1

(e) mother (has hh so) passes on h

1

father (has Hh so) passes on H

or h with equal probability
1

(so) child will be Hh / heterozygous with 0.5 probability and produces

FSH
1
allow annotated genetic diagram for all
marks
[14]

Q4.
(a) oestrogen
1

progesterone
1

(b) FSH causes an egg to mature in the ovary

1

(c) (from day) 9 (to day) 15

do not accept (from day) 15 (to day) 9
1

(d) Level 3: Relevant points (reasons/causes) are identified, given

in detail and logically linked to form a clear account.
5−6

Level 2: Relevant points (reasons/causes) are identified and

there are attempts at logical thinking. The resulting account is
not fully clear.
3−4

Level 1: Points are identified and stated simply, but their

relevance is not clear and there is no attempt at logical
thinking.
1−2

No relevant content
0

Indicative content
• oral contraceptive / the ‘pill’
◦ (contains hormones / oestrogen / progesterone) to
prevent egg / follicle maturing or prevents ovulation
• injection / implant / skin patch
◦ (contains hormones / oestrogen / progesterone) to
prevent egg / follicle maturing or prevents ovulation

• condom / femidom
◦ prevents sperm reaching egg or prevents sperm
entering woman’s body / vagina

• diaphragm
◦ prevents sperm reaching egg / womb / oviduct
• IUD
◦ prevents implantation
or releases hormone / progesterone to prevent
ovulation
or (releases copper ions to) thicken mucus and
prevent sperm passage

• spermicide
◦ kills sperm

• sterilisation / vasectomy / tubular ligation

◦ prevents passage of sperm / egg

• rhythm method
◦ no egg available for fertilisation
[10]