AQA · GCSE · Biology
Course version: 8461 · Version from Sept 2018
ADH is released by the pituitary gland when the blood is too concentrated…
Full specification wording
Maintaining water and nitrogen balance in the body (biology only): ADH is released by the pituitary gland when the blood is too concentrated and it causes more water to be reabsorbed back into the blood from the kidney tubules.
The pituitary gland releases the hormone ADH when blood becomes too concentrated.
Checked against the AQA 8461 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 15 of 17
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
The pituitary gland releases the hormone ADH when blood becomes too concentrated. ADH travels to the kidneys, causing more water to be reabsorbed into the blood from the kidney tubules. This produces a smaller volume of concentrated urine.
For example: Heavy sweating during exercise reduces blood water, triggering ADH release to conserve water.
What earns the marks
- State that ADH is released by the pituitary gland when blood is too concentrated.
- Describe that ADH causes more water to be reabsorbed from the kidney tubules into the blood.
- Link the effect of ADH to the production of a smaller volume of more concentrated urine.
- (Higher Tier) Explain that ADH increases the permeability of the kidney tubules to water.
- (Higher Tier) Explain that increased permeability allows more water to be reabsorbed by osmosis.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Saying that ADH causes water to be reabsorbed from the blood into the tubules.
Put it right by stating water moves from the tubules back into the blood.
Stating that ADH is released when blood is too dilute.
Put it right by explaining ADH is released when blood is too concentrated (water levels are low).
Exam tips
- Use the phrase 'blood too concentrated' to describe the stimulus for ADH release, rather than just saying 'low water'.
Try the lesson
The start of the Maintaining water and nitrogen balance in the body (biology only): ADH is released by the pituitary gland when the blood is too concentrated and it causes more water to be reabsorbed back into the blood from the kidney tubules. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which endocrine gland releases ADH when the blood becomes too concentrated?
Listen
The pituitary gland releases the hormone ADH when blood becomes too concentrated. ADH travels to the kidneys, causing more water to be reabsorbed into the blood from the kidney tubules. This produces a smaller volume of concentrated urine. For example, heavy sweating during exercise reduces blood water, triggering ADH release to conserve water. A strong answer earns marks for these points. State that ADH is released by the pituitary gland when blood is too concentrated. Describe that ADH causes more water to be reabsorbed from the kidney tubules into the blood. Link the effect of ADH to the production of a smaller volume of more concentrated urine. Higher Tier) Explain that ADH increases the permeability of the kidney tubules to water. A common slip: Saying that ADH causes water to be reabsorbed from the blood into the tubules. Instead, stating water moves from the tubules back into the blood. Exam tip: Use the phrase 'blood too concentrated' to describe the stimulus for ADH release, rather than just saying 'low water'.
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