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Ch. 25 The Urinary System
All textbooksElaine N. Marieb, Katja Hoehn 7th EditionCh. 25 The Urinary SystemProblem 5
Chapter 24, Problem 5

Glucose is not normally found in the urine because it
a. Does not pass through the walls of the glomerulus
b. Is kept in the blood by colloid osmotic pressure
c. Is reabsorbed by the tubule cells
d. Is removed by the body cells before the blood reaches the kidney

Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the process of urine formation in the kidneys, which involves filtration at the glomerulus, reabsorption in the tubules, and secretion.
Recall that glucose is a small molecule that freely passes through the glomerular filtration barrier, so it is initially filtered into the nephron.
Recognize that glucose is normally not found in urine because it is reabsorbed almost completely by the proximal tubule cells back into the bloodstream.
Eliminate options that are incorrect: glucose does pass through the glomerulus (so option a is incorrect), colloid osmotic pressure does not selectively keep glucose in the blood (option b is incorrect), and glucose is not removed by body cells before reaching the kidney (option d is incorrect).
Conclude that the correct reason glucose is not normally found in urine is because it is reabsorbed by the tubule cells, corresponding to option c.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Glomerular Filtration

Glomerular filtration is the process where blood plasma is filtered through the glomerulus into the renal tubule. Small molecules like glucose typically pass through the glomerular membrane, while larger molecules and cells do not. This filtration is the first step in urine formation.
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Glomerular Filtration Rate

Tubular Reabsorption

Tubular reabsorption is the process by which substances like glucose, water, and ions are reabsorbed from the filtrate back into the bloodstream by the renal tubule cells. Glucose is normally completely reabsorbed in the proximal tubule, preventing its loss in urine.
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Introduction to Tubular Reabsorption

Colloid Osmotic Pressure

Colloid osmotic pressure is the force exerted by plasma proteins that helps retain water in the blood vessels. While it influences fluid movement, it does not directly prevent glucose from passing into the filtrate or being lost in urine.
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Partial Pressure
Related Practice
Textbook Question

The glomerular capillaries differ from other capillary networks in the body because they

a. Have a larger area of anastomosis

b. Are derived from and drain into arterioles

c. Are not made of endothelium

d. Are sites of filtrate formation

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Textbook Question

Damage to the renal medulla would interfere first with the functioning of the

a. Glomerular capsules

b. Distal convoluted tubules

c. Collecting ducts

d. Proximal convoluted tubules

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Textbook Question

Which is reabsorbed by the proximal convoluted tubule cells?

a. Na⁺

b. K⁺

c. Amino acids

d. All of the above

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Textbook Question

Filtration at the glomerulus is inversely related to

a. Water reabsorption

b. Capsular hydrostatic pressure

c. Arterial blood pressure

d. Acidity of the urine

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Textbook Question

Tubular reabsorption

a. Of glucose and many other substances is a Tm - limited active transport process

b. Of chloride is always linked to the passive transport of Na⁺

c. Is the movement of substances from the blood into the nephron

d. Of sodium occurs only in the proximal tubule

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Textbook Question

If a freshly voided urine sample contains excessive amounts of urochrome, it has

a. An ammonia-like odor

b. A pH below normal

c. A dark yellow color

d. A pH above normal

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