Blood glucose control, diabetes and the urinary system

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Question 4
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A patient with renal failure undergoes treatment using a dialysis machine, as illustrated in the simplified diagram below.

A schematic diagram of a dialysis machine cartridge. Blood from the patient's artery enters the top of the cartridge and flows downwards. Dialysis fluid enters from the bottom of the cartridge and flows upwards (counter-current flow). An inset magnified view shows a partially permeable membrane separating the blood chamber from the dialysis fluid chamber. Small green circles represent urea, blue circles represent salt ions, yellow hexagons represent glucose, and large red circles represent red blood cells.

Describe how a dialysis machine is designed to remove waste products from the blood while maintaining the correct balance of useful substances.

In your answer, you should:

  • Name the main waste products that are removed.
  • Explain the mechanism by which substances are exchanged across the dialysis membrane.
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Blood glucose control, diabetes and the urinary system Questions

  1. GCSE
  2. /Biology
  3. /Blood glucose control, diabetes and the urinary system