Given below are two statements: Statement I: In the nephron, the descending limb of loop of Henle is impermeable to water and permeable to electrolytes. Statement II: The proximal convoluted tubule is lined by simple columnar brush border epithelium and increases the surface area for reabsorption. In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Solution & Explanation

Answer: (A) Both statement I and statement II are false. Solution: Statement I is FALSE — the descending limb of the loop of Henle is permeable to water but almost impermeable to electrolytes (the statement reverses this). Statement II is FALSE — the PCT is lined by simple CUBOIDAL brush border epithelium, not columnar, though it does correctly increase surface area for reabsorption. Since both are wrong, the answer is option A. NCERT Reference: Ch 16, p.209, lines 28-39 — "PCT is lined by simple cuboidal brush border epithelium which increases the surface area for reabsorption ... The descending limb of loop of Henle is permeable to water but almost impermeable to electrolytes."