[Campbell Biology P.1033] A patient's urine test reveals an unusually high concentration of g... | Practice Question

A patient's urine test reveals an unusually high concentration of glucose, despite normal blood glucose levels. Based on the principles of excretory system function described, which process is most likely impaired in this patient?

  • A: Filtration: The initial process of forming filtrate in the kidney.
  • B: Reabsorption: The recovery of useful substances from the filtrate back into the body fluids.
  • C: Secretion: The active addition of wastes and nonessential solutes to the filtrate.
  • D: Excretion: The final release of urine from the body.

Explanation

The text explicitly states that 'Valuable solutes—including glucose, certain salts, vitamins, hormones, and amino acids—are reabsorbed by active transport.' If blood glucose levels are normal but glucose appears in the urine, it indicates that glucose was filtered as it should be but was not properly reabsorbed from the filtrate back into the blood. Therefore, the reabsorption process is most likely impaired.