Filtration at the glomerulus — practice questions

Question 1 · difficulty L1 · recall

Where does ultrafiltration of blood occur in a nephron?

• A. Glomerulus and Bowman's capsule
• B. Loop of Henle
• C. Collecting duct
• D. Distal convoluted tubule

Question 2 · difficulty L1 · recall

Which structure receives the filtrate produced by the glomerulus?

• A. Renal pelvis
• B. Bowman's capsule
• C. Ureter
• D. Collecting duct

Question 3 · difficulty L2 · understanding

The first major step of urine formation:

• A. countercurrent multiplication
• B. micturition
• C. glomerular filtration
• D. tubular secretion

Question 4 · difficulty L2 · understanding

Why is glomerular blood pressure relatively high?

• A. The glomerulus contains valves that pump blood
• B. The efferent arteriole is wider than the afferent arteriole
• C. The afferent arteriole is wider than the efferent arteriole
• D. Bowman's capsule actively contracts

Question 5 · difficulty L2 · understanding

Which substances are normally retained in the blood during glomerular filtration?

• A. Amino acids and bicarbonate
• B. Water and glucose
• C. Urea and salts
• D. Blood cells and most plasma proteins

Question 6 · difficulty L3 · application

A person's glomerular filtration barrier becomes unusually permeable to large plasma proteins. Which change in the filtrate is most directly expected?

• A. More plasma protein appears in the filtrate
• B. Glucose disappears completely from the filtrate
• C. No water enters Bowman's capsule
• D. All blood cells enter the filtrate normally

Question 7 · difficulty L3 · application

Blood flow into a glomerulus falls sharply because the afferent arteriole constricts. What immediate effect is most likely?

• A. Glomerular filtration rate increases greatly
• B. Glomerular filtration rate decreases
• C. Filtration becomes independent of blood pressure
• D. Urine becomes concentrated only because ADH rises

Question 8 · difficulty L3 · application

A healthy adult filters about 125 mL of plasma-derived fluid each minute through the kidneys. What is this value called?

• A. Cardiac output
• B. Renal plasma osmolarity
• C. Glomerular filtration rate
• D. Micturition rate

Question 9 · difficulty L4 · analysis

Substance X is freely filtered at the glomerulus but does not appear in final urine because it is completely reclaimed under normal conditions. Which process after filtration best explains this?

• A. Passive movement into Bowman's capsule
• B. Greater glomerular filtration
• C. Micturition
• D. Selective tubular reabsorption

Question 10 · difficulty L5 · analysis

Two nephrons have identical filtration barriers. Nephron P has much higher glomerular hydrostatic pressure than nephron Q, while the opposing pressures are similar. Which prediction is most reasonable?

• A. P will have a greater net filtration pressure and usually a higher filtration rate
• B. Q will necessarily filter more because its pressure is lower
• C. Both will have identical filtration because pressure does not matter
• D. Neither can filter unless the tubule actively pumps water