This lesson describes how the loop of Henle acts as a countercurrent multiplier to increase the reabsorption of water. The PowerPoint and accompanying resource are part of the 2nd lesson in a series of 2 lessons which have been designed to cover point 9.9 (iii) of the Edexcel A-level biology B specification but also considers the structure of the kidney in the kangaroo rat and therefore also covers point 9.9 (v).
The lesson begins by challenging the students to recognise that the glomerular filtrate entering the loop will only contain water, ions and urea if the kidneys are functioning properly. Time is then taken to look at the structure of the loop of Henle, focusing on the descending and ascending limbs, and their differing permeabilities. Students will be reminded that this part of the nephron is located in the renal medulla, before a step-by-step guide is used to describe how the transfer of ions, particularly sodium ions, from the ascending limb to the descending limb, creates a very negative water potential in this region of the kidney. This allows water to move out of the descending limb to the tissue fluid and then into the capillaries.
The next part of the lesson challenges students to consider the bigger picture as they learn that this decreasing water potential in the medulla allows water to be reabsorbed from the filtrate in the collecting duct too.
The remainder of the lesson uses the real-world examples of the hopping mouse and kangaroo rat to check student understanding, and there are also prior knowledge checks to encourage students to make links to relevant content from earlier topics. All answers are embedded into the PowerPoint.
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Topic 9: Control systems (Edexcel A-level Biology B)
This bundle contains 19 lessons which are engaging and highly detailed in order to cover the difficult content as set out in topic 9 (Control systems) of the Edexcel A-level Biology B specification. The lesson PowerPoints and accompanying resources contain a wide variety of tasks which cover the following specification points: * Homeostasis is the maintenance of a state of dynamic equilibrium * The importance of maintaining pH, temperature and water potential in the body * The meaning of negative feedback and positive feedback control * The principles of hormone production by endocrine glands * The two main modes of action in hormones * The organisation of the mammalian nervous system into the CNS and PNS * The structure of the spinal cord * The location and functions of the main parts of the brain * The division of the autonomic nervous system into the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems * The transport of sodium and potassium ions in a resting potential * The formation of an action potential and the propagation along an axon * Saltatory conduction * The function of synapses * The formation and effects of excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic potentials * The structure of the human retina * The role of rhodopsin * The distribution of rods and cone cells * The control of heart rate by the autonomic nervous system * The gross and microscopic structure of the kidney * The production of urea in the liver and its removal from the blood by ultrafiltration * Selective reabsorption in the proximal tubule * Water reabsorption in the loop of Henle * Control of mammalian plasma concentration * The differences between ectotherms and endotherms * The regulation of temperature by endotherms If you would like to sample the quality of this lesson bundle, then download the homeostasis, mammalian nervous system, resting and action potentials and the formation of urea and ultrafiltration lessons as these have been uploaded for free.
Topic 9.9: Osmoregulation and temperature regulation (Edexcel A-level Biology B)
This detailed bundle contains 7 lesson PowerPoints and accompanying resources that cover the following specification points found within topic 9.9 of the Edexcel A-level Biology B specification: * The gross and microscopic structure of the mammalian kidney * The formation of urea in the liver from excess amino acids * The removal of urea from the bloodstream by ultrafiltration * The selective reabsorption of solutes in the proximal tubule * The reabsorption of water through use of a countercurrent multiplier in the loop of Henel * The differences between endotherms and ectotherms * The regulation of temperature by endotherms by a range of behavioural and physiological responses The wide range of tasks, which include exam-style questions with detailed markschemes, focused discussion points and quiz competitions which introduce key terms and values, will engage and motivate the students whilst the content is covered in the detail required at A-level If you would like to sample the quality of the lessons included in this bundle, then download the formation of urea and ultrafiltration lesson as this has been shared for free
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