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A major problem with kidney transplants is tissue rejection.

Unit 3 - Dialysis

In GCSE Biology, dialysis is studied as a life-saving treatment that cleans the blood when the kidneys stop working properly and cannot remove waste on their own.

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Fascinating Fact:

The dialysis fluid is constantly refreshed so that diffusion gradients are maintained. This ensures that waste products continue to leave the blood efficiently.

In GCSE Biology, dialysis is taught as an artificial way to carry out some kidney functions. A machine passes a patient’s blood beside a special membrane so dissolved wastes can move out while useful substances are kept in the blood.

Key Terms

Dialysis: A medical process that uses a machine to remove dissolved waste substances and excess water from the blood when the kidneys do not work properly.
Kidney failure: A condition in which the kidneys can no longer filter the blood effectively, so harmful substances and extra fluid build up in the body.
Partially permeable membrane: A thin barrier that allows some small molecules to pass through but stops larger molecules, helping separate waste from useful substances in the blood.

Frequently Asked Questions (click to see answers)

What is dialysis in GCSE Biology?

In GCSE Biology, dialysis is described as a treatment that takes over some functions of the kidneys. Blood is cleaned by removing dissolved wastes and extra water using a machine outside the body.

How does a dialysis machine clean the blood?

In a dialysis machine, blood flows on one side of a partially permeable membrane and dialysis fluid flows on the other. Small waste molecules move out of the blood by diffusion while larger molecules stay in the blood.

What are disadvantages of dialysis compared to a kidney transplant?

Dialysis often requires long, regular treatment sessions and a controlled diet, which can restrict daily life. A successful kidney transplant can offer a more normal lifestyle but involves surgery and the risk of organ rejection.

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .

Dialysis is needed when which organ(s) fails?

Heart

Lungs

Liver

Kidneys

Dialysis is specific to the kidneys

2 .

Dialysis removes this waste material from the blood.

Protein

Glucose

Urea

Urine

It also restores the balance of ions and water in the blood, but the removal of urea is extremely important as it is toxic

3 .

The dialysis membrane is...

fully permeable

partially permeable

impermeable

impenetrable

Only small molecules, such as urea and certain ions, can pass out of the blood. Essential, large molecules like proteins must remain in the blood and are too big to pass through

4 .

Dialysis relies on movement of molecules and ions by the process of...

osmosis

diffusion

active transport

urination

Urea will cross the dialysis membrane by diffusion because the dialysis fluid is carefully designed to create the correct concentration gradient across the membrane

5 .

Urea travels from...

patient's blood into dialysis fluid

dialysis fluid into the patient's blood

patient's urine into the dialysis fluid

dialysis fluid into patient's urine

This is done by making sure that the concentration of urea in the dialysis fluid is lower than in the blood of the patient

6 .

To retain glucose and ions in the blood, their concentration in dialysis fluid will be...

the same

higher

lower

It does not matter

Blood glucose concentration must be the same is in the dialysis fluid, otherwise glucose would be lost or gained from the patient

7 .

One major problem with dialysis is...

it is time consuming

it makes the patient worse

it cures the problem

it stops working

The patient must remain connected to the machine for many (usually for about 4 - 6) hours and it needs to be carried out regularly, every few days

8 .

Apart from dialysis, another treatment for kidney failure is a...

wonder drug

kidney transplant

liver transplant

surgery

Finding a suitable donor can be time consuming

9 .

A major problem with kidney transplants is...

bleeding

tissue rejection

headaches

high death rate

The kidney to be transplanted must have similar antigens to the patient. The process of finding a suitable organ for any transplant, including a kidney transplant, is called tissue typing

10 .

To avoid tissue rejection, the kidney transplant patient has to take drugs which suppress which system of the body?

Immune

Excretory

Respiratory

Reproductive

After a transplant, the patient will need to take drugs that suppress the immune system to reduce the chances of it attacking the new kidney and damaging or destroying it. This leaves transplant patients more vulnerable to any infection

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - The role of the kidneys in homeostasis

Author: Donna Davidson (GCSE Biology Teacher & Examiner, Quiz Writer)