Human Excretory System & Nephron — NEET Biology MCQs with Solutions
Free NEET Biology Human Excretory System & Nephron MCQs with step-by-step solutions (54 questions). Part of Excretory Products and Their Elimination. Practise online on Prepizo — no login needed.
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Questions with solutions
Q1 — Human Excretory System & Nephron · easy · theory
The functional (structural) unit of the kidney is the:
A. Nephron ✓ Correct
B. Neuron
C. Alveolus
D. Glomerulus only
Solution: Each kidney has about a million nephrons — the units that form urine.
Q2 — Human Excretory System & Nephron · easy · theory
The tuft of capillaries where blood filtration begins in the nephron is the:
A. Glomerulus ✓ Correct
B. Ureter
C. Loop of Henle
D. Collecting duct
Solution: The glomerulus (enclosed by Bowman's capsule) is the site of ultrafiltration of blood.
Q3 — Human Excretory System & Nephron · medium · theory
The part of the nephron mainly responsible for the reabsorption of glucose, amino acids and most water/ions is the:
A. Collecting duct
B. Loop of Henle
C. Proximal convoluted tubule (PCT) ✓ Correct
D. Distal convoluted tubule
Solution: The PCT reabsorbs nearly all glucose and amino acids and about 70–80% of electrolytes and water.
Q4 — Human Excretory System & Nephron · medium · theory
Urine passes from the kidney to the urinary bladder through the:
A. Collecting duct only
B. Urethra
C. Nephron
D. Ureter ✓ Correct
Solution: The ureter carries urine from the kidney (renal pelvis) to the bladder; the urethra empties the bladder out.
Q5 — Human Excretory System & Nephron · hard · theory
The juxtaglomerular apparatus (JGA), important in regulating kidney function, is formed at the contact point of the:
A. Glomerulus and collecting duct
B. Ureter and bladder
C. PCT and loop of Henle
D. Afferent arteriole and the distal convoluted tubule ✓ Correct
Solution: The JGA forms where the DCT touches the afferent arteriole; it secretes renin regulating GFR and blood pressure.
Q6 — Human Excretory System & Nephron · hard · theory
The Loop of Henle plays a key role in producing ______ urine by maintaining an ______ in the medulla:
A. Concentrated; low salt medulla
B. Concentrated; osmotic (interstitial) gradient ✓ Correct
C. Dilute; equal concentration
D. Isotonic; no gradient
Solution: The counter-current mechanism of the loop of Henle and vasa recta builds a medullary gradient, enabling concentrated urine.
Q7 — Human Excretory System & Nephron · easy · numerical
The columns of Bertini seen in a section of the human kidney are:
A. The pointed tips of pyramids projecting into the calyces
B. Extensions of the cortex that project inward between the medullary pyramids ✓ Correct
C. Bundles of collecting ducts running through the renal papilla
D. The outer fibrous capsule covering the kidney surface
Solution: The renal cortex dips down between the medullary pyramids as the renal (Bertini) columns; the pyramidal projections into the calyx are the renal papillae.
Q8 — Human Excretory System & Nephron · easy · numerical
Approximately how many nephrons are present in each human kidney?
A. About one thousand
B. About one million ✓ Correct
C. About ten thousand
D. About one billion
Solution: Each human kidney contains roughly one million (about ten lakh) nephrons, its structural and functional units.
Q9 — Human Excretory System & Nephron · easy · numerical
The vasa recta are:
A. The muscular ducts that carry urine to the bladder
B. The afferent arterioles supplying blood to the glomerulus
C. The filtration slits between adjacent podocytes
D. A network of capillaries running parallel to the loop of Henle ✓ Correct
Solution: The vasa recta are straight capillaries that run alongside the loop of Henle and are important in the counter-current concentration of urine.
Q10 — Human Excretory System & Nephron · easy · numerical
The renal corpuscle (Malpighian body) of a nephron consists of:
A. The glomerulus enclosed within the Bowman's capsule ✓ Correct
B. The loop of Henle together with the vasa recta
C. The proximal convoluted tubule and its brush border
D. The distal convoluted tubule joined to the collecting duct
Solution: The Malpighian body / renal corpuscle is the glomerulus (capillary tuft) held inside the cup-shaped Bowman's capsule, where filtration begins.
Q11 — Human Excretory System & Nephron · medium · numerical
Which statement correctly distinguishes cortical from juxtamedullary nephrons?
A. The vasa recta is prominent in cortical nephrons and absent in juxtamedullary nephrons
B. Cortical nephrons lie entirely within the medulla near the renal pelvis
C. Cortical nephrons have the longest loops of Henle reaching the inner medulla
D. Juxtamedullary nephrons have long loops of Henle running deep into the medulla and a well-developed vasa recta ✓ Correct
Solution: Juxtamedullary nephrons have long loops penetrating deep into the medulla with a prominent vasa recta; cortical nephrons have short loops and a reduced or absent vasa recta.
Q12 — Human Excretory System & Nephron · medium · numerical
Arrange the path of urine correctly from where it leaves the nephron to the ureter: (1) major calyx (2) collecting duct (3) renal pelvis (4) minor calyx.
A. 2 → 1 → 4 → 3
B. 2 → 3 → 4 → 1
C. 2 → 4 → 1 → 3 ✓ Correct
D. 4 → 2 → 1 → 3
Solution: Urine drains from collecting ducts into a minor calyx, then a major calyx, then the renal pelvis, and finally into the ureter.
Q13 — Human Excretory System & Nephron · medium · numerical
The filtration membrane through which blood is filtered in the renal corpuscle is made of three layers. Which set correctly lists them?
A. Endothelium, tunica media, and the parietal layer of Bowman's capsule only
B. Brush-border epithelium, basement membrane, and smooth muscle of the tubule
C. Glomerular capillary endothelium, basement membrane, and podocytes of Bowman's capsule ✓ Correct
D. Mesangial cells, macula densa, and the visceral peritoneum
Solution: The three-layered filtration barrier consists of the fenestrated glomerular endothelium, the glomerular basement membrane, and the podocytes (with filtration slits) of the inner Bowman's capsule.
Q14 — Human Excretory System & Nephron · medium · numerical
Assertion (A): The vasa recta is poorly developed or absent in cortical nephrons. Reason (R): Cortical nephrons have short loops of Henle that extend only slightly into the medulla. Choose the correct option.
A. A is true but R is false
B. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A ✓ Correct
C. A is false but R is true
D. Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A
Solution: Because cortical nephrons have short loops that barely enter the medulla, the accompanying vasa recta is reduced or absent; the long loops of juxtamedullary nephrons need a prominent vasa recta.
Q15 — Human Excretory System & Nephron · medium · numerical
The cells of the proximal convoluted tubule bear a brush border of microvilli. What is the functional significance of this feature?
A. It secretes renin in response to a fall in blood pressure
B. It greatly increases the surface area for reabsorption of substances from the filtrate ✓ Correct
C. It creates the medullary osmotic gradient for concentrating urine
D. It provides the pressure that drives glomerular filtration
Solution: The microvilli (brush border) hugely increase the luminal surface area of the PCT, making it the main site of reabsorption of water, ions and nutrients.
Q16 — Human Excretory System & Nephron · medium · numerical
Which of the following statements about the juxtaglomerular apparatus (JGA) is INCORRECT?
A. Its juxtaglomerular cells release renin when glomerular blood pressure or GFR falls
B. The macula densa of the DCT is one of its components
C. It forms at the point of contact between the afferent arteriole and the distal convoluted tubule
D. It secretes the hormone aldosterone directly into the blood ✓ Correct
Solution: The JGA releases renin, not aldosterone; aldosterone is secreted by the adrenal cortex. The rest of the statements about the JGA are correct.
Q17 — Human Excretory System & Nephron · medium
Which of the following statements is wrong about the human excretory system?
A. Kidneys are situated between the 12th thoracic and 3rd lumbar vertebrae close to the dorsal wall in abdominal cavity.
B. All of the above
C. Excretory system consists of one pair of bean shaped kidneys, one pair of ureter, a urinary bladder and a urethra.
D. Right kidney is a little higher level than the left one. ✓ Correct
Solution: The right kidney is placed a little lower than the left one (because the liver occupies space on the right side above it), not higher. Statements 1 and 2 are correct, so the wrong statement is option 3.
Q18 — Human Excretory System & Nephron · easy
Each kidney of an adult human measures (Length / Width / Thickness / Weight):
A. 10-20 cm / 10-20 cm / 6-12 cm / 40-50 g
B. 10-12 cm / 5-7 cm / 2-3 cm / 120-170 g
C. 10-12 cm / 5-7 cm / 2-3 cm / 120-170 g ✓ Correct
D. 2-6 cm / 10-12 cm / 6-12 cm / 40-50 g
Solution: As per NCERT, each human kidney is about 10-12 cm long, 5-7 cm wide, 2-3 cm thick and weighs about 120-170 g.
Q19 — Human Excretory System & Nephron · easy
The part of the kidney which serves as the gateway for ureter, nerves and blood vessels is:
A. Hilum ✓ Correct
B. Minor calyx
C. Renal pore
D. Major calyx
Solution: The hilum is a notch on the inner concave surface of the kidney through which the ureter, blood vessels and nerves enter and leave.
Q20 — Human Excretory System & Nephron · easy
Inner to the hilum of the kidney is a broad funnel-shaped space called:
A. Calyx
B. Pelvis ✓ Correct
C. Cortex
D. Medulla
Solution: Inner to the hilum is a broad funnel-shaped space called the renal pelvis, which has projections called calyces.
Q21 — Human Excretory System & Nephron · medium
Which of the following statements is false?
I. Outer cortex and inner medulla are the two zones in the kidney.
II. Medulla is divided into about 8 to 18 renal pyramids.
III. Pyramid projects into the calyx.
IV. Inward extension of cortex between the pyramids is called renal column of Bertini.
A. None ✓ Correct
B. I and IV
C. IV
D. II and IV
Solution: All four statements are correct as per NCERT: the kidney has an outer cortex and inner medulla; the medulla is divided into a few conical renal pyramids projecting into the calyces; and the cortical extensions between the pyramids are the columns of Bertini. Hence none is false.
Q22 — Human Excretory System & Nephron · easy
Which one of the following is the structural and functional unit of the kidney?
A. Urethra
B. Urinary bladder
C. Renal column
D. Nephron ✓ Correct
Solution: Each kidney has about a million nephrons, which are the structural and functional units of the kidney.
Q23 — Human Excretory System & Nephron · easy
Renal corpuscle or Malpighian body is:
A. Glomerulus only
B. Bowman's capsule
C. Glomerulus along with Bowman's capsule ✓ Correct
D. Glomerulus with afferent arteriole
Solution: The renal corpuscle (Malpighian body) consists of the glomerulus enclosed within the cup-like Bowman's capsule.
Q24 — Human Excretory System & Nephron · easy
Which one of the following is a tube that carries urine from the kidney to the urinary bladder?
A. Loop of Henle
B. Uvula
C. Ureter ✓ Correct
D. Urethra
Solution: The ureter carries urine from the pelvis of each kidney to the urinary bladder. The urethra then carries urine out of the bladder.
Q25 — Human Excretory System & Nephron · easy
Each kidney has how many nephrons?
A. About 2 million
B. About 5000
C. About 1 million ✓ Correct
D. About 50000
Solution: Each kidney has nearly one million (about 10 lakh) complex tubular structures called nephrons.
Q26 — Human Excretory System & Nephron · easy
The bed of capillaries in the vertebrate kidney where water, urea and salts are filtered out of the blood is the:
A. Glomerulus ✓ Correct
B. Loop of Henle
C. Collecting duct
D. Bowman's capsule
Solution: The glomerulus is a tuft of capillaries formed by the afferent arteriole; blood is filtered here so that water, urea and salts pass into the Bowman's capsule.
Q27 — Human Excretory System & Nephron · medium
All of the following structures are situated in the renal cortex except:
A. Malpighian corpuscle
B. PCT
C. Loop of Henle ✓ Correct
D. DCT
Solution: The Malpighian corpuscle, PCT and DCT lie in the cortex, while the loop of Henle dips into the medulla. Hence the loop of Henle is the exception.
Q28 — Human Excretory System & Nephron · easy
The DCTs of many nephrons open into a straight tube called:
A. PCT
B. Loop of Henle
C. Collecting duct ✓ Correct
D. Bowman's capsule
Solution: The distal convoluted tubules (DCTs) of many nephrons open into a straight collecting duct, several of which converge and open into the renal pelvis.
Q29 — Human Excretory System & Nephron · medium
Which of the following statements is false?
A. Juxta medullary nephron has long loop of Henle.
B. None ✓ Correct
C. Renal tubule starts with a double-walled cup like structure called Bowman's capsule.
D. In majority of nephrons, the loop of Henle is too short and such nephrons are cortical nephrons.
Solution: All three statements are correct: the renal tubule begins with a double-walled Bowman's capsule; the majority (cortical) nephrons have a short loop of Henle; and juxtamedullary nephrons have a long loop of Henle. Hence none is false.
Q30 — Human Excretory System & Nephron · easy
Which is the correct pathway for passage of urine in humans?
A. Cortex → Medulla → bladder → ureter
B. Collecting tubule → ureter → bladder → urethra ✓ Correct
C. Pelvis → Medulla → bladder → urethra
D. Renal vein → renal ureter → bladder → urethra
Solution: Urine formed in the nephrons passes from the collecting tubules/ducts into the pelvis, then through the ureter to the urinary bladder, and is finally voided through the urethra.