Biology • Year 12 • Module 8 • Lesson 21
Module 8 Mastery — Integration Across All Inquiry Questions
Lock in the key vocabulary, concepts and frameworks across all five Module 8 Inquiry Questions — homeostasis, disease causes, epidemiology, prevention and assistive technologies — using the complex patient case as your anchor.
1. Term–definition match
The twelve definitions below are shuffled. In the right-hand column write the matching term from this list: comorbidity, negative feedback, insulin resistance, homeostasis, disease burden, epidemiology, multidisciplinary care, incidence, prevalence, health literacy, intervention hierarchy, physiological integration. 12 marks
| # | Definition (shuffled) | Matching term |
|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | The maintenance of a stable internal environment within narrow limits despite changes in the external or internal environment. | |
| 1.2 | A control mechanism in which a detected change triggers a response that counteracts the original change and returns the variable toward its normal range. | |
| 1.3 | The simultaneous presence of two or more chronic diseases in the same individual; common in Module 8 case studies (e.g. T2D + CVD + CKD). | |
| 1.4 | A condition in which body cells respond weakly to insulin so blood glucose remains above the normal range despite insulin being present. | |
| 1.5 | The total impact of a disease on individuals and populations, often measured in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). | |
| 1.6 | The number of new cases of a disease in a defined population over a specific time period. | |
| 1.7 | The total number of existing cases (new and old) of a disease in a population at a given point in time. | |
| 1.8 | The scientific study of the distribution and determinants of health and disease in populations. | |
| 1.9 | Management of complex patients by teams spanning multiple specialties (e.g. endocrinology, nephrology, cardiology, nutrition). | |
| 1.10 | Prioritising the most critical or reversible pathophysiology first when multiple systems are failing simultaneously. | |
| 1.11 | The interdependence of organ systems; failure in one system (kidney) disrupts others (blood pressure, glucose regulation, fluid balance). | |
| 1.12 | A patient's ability to understand and act on health information; a critical factor in self-management of chronic non-infectious disease. |
2. True or false — with correction
For each statement, circle T or F. If the statement is false, write the corrected version on the line. 10 marks (1 for T/F, 1 for correction where needed)
2.1 In Type 2 diabetes, negative feedback no longer exists at all — the pancreas stops releasing insulin entirely. T / F
2.2 A graph showing higher chronic kidney disease rates in regional communities proves that living in a regional area directly causes kidney disease. T / F
2.3 Dialysis compensates for some kidney functions but does not cure kidney disease or fully restore normal biology. T / F
2.4 If a patient has a family history of bowel cancer, that person will definitely develop bowel cancer at some point. T / F
2.5 Negative feedback refers to the direction of correction — it counteracts a deviation from the normal range regardless of whether the original change was harmful. T / F
3. Build a Module 8 concept map
Draw labelled arrows between the six terms below to show how they connect across the five Inquiry Questions. Each arrow must carry a linking phrase (e.g. "causes", "disrupts", "is measured by", "manages"). Aim for at least 6 labelled arrows. 6 marks
Supplied terms: insulin resistance · hyperglycaemia · kidney damage · epidemiology · dialysis · prevention strategies.
4. Cloze — complete the integrated response paragraph
Fill each blank with the correct word or phrase from the word bank below. Use each term once only. 9 marks
Word bank: normal range · insulin resistance · effectors · negative feedback · hyperglycaemia · vascular damage · kidney function · confounders · evidence
In Type 2 diabetes, glucose homeostasis fails because of _______________, which means body cells respond weakly to insulin. Blood glucose therefore remains above the _______________, showing that the _______________ loop is not working effectively. Although receptors detect the elevated glucose and the pancreas activates as a control centre, the _______________ (muscles and liver) are unable to restore normal conditions. Persistent _______________ causes _______________, which over time reduces _______________. Epidemiological studies can show associations between risk factors and disease rates, but must control for _______________ before their results count as strong causal _______________.
5. Function recall — what does each component do?
Answer each in 1–2 sentences using precise terms from the lesson. 8 marks — 2 each)
5.1 What is the function of insulin in maintaining blood glucose homeostasis in a person without diabetes?
5.2 What is the function of epidemiology at the population level when investigating chronic kidney disease in Australian regional communities?
5.3 What is the function of screening programs (such as bowel cancer screening in Australians over 50) as a prevention strategy?
5.4 What is the function of haemodialysis for a patient with end-stage chronic kidney disease?
6. Classify each statement under the correct Inquiry Question
Write the correct IQ number (IQ1, IQ2, IQ3, IQ4 or IQ5) next to each statement. Some may apply to more than one — if so, write the most relevant IQ. 5 marks
| # | Statement | Most relevant IQ |
|---|---|---|
| 6.1 | "An HbA1c of 9.2% over two years shows the patient's blood glucose negative feedback loop is not restoring the variable to its set point." | |
| 6.2 | "Type 2 diabetes risk involves interaction between genetic predisposition, diet, physical activity level and body mass." | |
| 6.3 | "Data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows CKD prevalence is higher in remote areas, though confounders must be examined." | |
| 6.4 | "Enrolling the patient in a structured diabetes education and exercise program addresses modifiable risk factors for disease progression." | |
| 6.5 | "A hearing aid amplifies sound and can improve communication for this patient, but does not repair the damaged cochlear hair cells causing his sensorineural hearing loss." |
Q1 — Term–definition matches
1.1 homeostasis • 1.2 negative feedback • 1.3 comorbidity • 1.4 insulin resistance • 1.5 disease burden • 1.6 incidence • 1.7 prevalence • 1.8 epidemiology • 1.9 multidisciplinary care • 1.10 intervention hierarchy • 1.11 physiological integration • 1.12 health literacy.
Q2 — True / false with correction
2.1 False. Correction: In Type 2 diabetes, the pancreas continues to release insulin (especially early in the disease) but target cells respond weakly — the negative feedback loop is impaired, not completely absent.
2.2 False. Correction: The graph supports an association between regional location and higher CKD rates; it does not prove direct causation. Confounding variables (access to healthcare, diet, age, socioeconomic status) must be considered.
2.3 True.
2.4 False. Correction: Family history of bowel cancer increases risk, but it does not make the disease inevitable. Environmental exposures, random mutation, lifestyle and screening all affect whether disease actually develops.
2.5 True.
Q3 — Sample concept map links
A correct map should include arrows such as:
- insulin resistance — causes persistent → hyperglycaemia
- hyperglycaemia — leads to → kidney damage (via glomerular capillary damage)
- kidney damage — is managed by → dialysis
- epidemiology — identifies risk factors for → kidney damage
- prevention strategies — aim to slow or stop → hyperglycaemia (or kidney damage)
- prevention strategies — can reduce the need for → dialysis
Award 1 mark per correctly labelled arrow that respects causal direction. Accept any biologically valid linking phrase.
Q4 — Cloze
In order of blanks: insulin resistance · normal range · negative feedback · effectors · hyperglycaemia · vascular damage · kidney function · confounders · evidence.
Q5.1 — Function of insulin
Insulin acts on liver cells and muscle cells (effectors) to increase glucose uptake and promote glycogen storage, thereby lowering blood glucose back toward the normal range. It is the key hormone in the negative feedback response to rising blood glucose after a meal.
Q5.2 — Function of epidemiology
Epidemiology identifies patterns of disease distribution across populations — for example, showing that CKD prevalence is higher in remote Australian communities — allowing health authorities to identify at-risk groups and direct resources or prevention programs accordingly. It does not prove causation on its own.
Q5.3 — Function of screening programs
Screening programs detect disease at an earlier stage (before symptoms appear), when treatment is more likely to be effective and disease progression can be slowed or halted. The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (free home kit at ages 50–74 in Australia) aims to catch colorectal cancer or pre-cancerous polyps early, reducing mortality.
Q5.4 — Function of haemodialysis
Haemodialysis filters the patient's blood through an artificial membrane to remove metabolic waste products (e.g. urea, creatinine) and excess fluid that the failing kidneys can no longer excrete. It partially substitutes for lost kidney filtration function, reducing uraemia and maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance, but must be performed repeatedly (typically 3 times per week) and does not cure the underlying kidney disease.
Q6 — Inquiry Question classifier
6.1 → IQ1 (homeostasis — negative feedback failing). 6.2 → IQ2 (causes of non-infectious disease — interacting risk factors). 6.3 → IQ3 (epidemiology — prevalence data + confounders). 6.4 → IQ4 (prevention — modifiable risk factor management). 6.5 → IQ5 (technologies — assistive technology mechanism + limitation).