Urine comprises approximately 95% water and 5% solutes. The primary ingredient, apart from water, is urea - a byproduct of the breakdown of amino acids. Other notable components include uric acid, a residue from nucleic acid metabolism, and creatinine, a metabolite from creatine phosphate breakdown in skeletal muscle tissue.

The concentration of these solutes varies, with urea being the most abundant nitrogenous waste product. Other solutes include sodium, chloride, potassium, phosphate, sulfate, creatinine, and uric acid. Calcium, magnesium, and bicarbonate are present in smaller yet fluctuating amounts. An unusually high concentration of any solute or the presence of abnormal substances like blood proteins or bile pigments could signal a potential health issue.

The color and transparency of urine can provide valuable insight into a person's health. Freshly voided urine is generally clear, and its color ranges from pale to deep yellow due to urochrome, a pigment produced when the body breaks down bilirubin. Certain foods, medications, and vitamin supplements can change the color of urine, while cloudiness may suggest a urinary tract infection.

When fresh, urine emits a mild scent, which can develop into an ammonia-like odor over time as bacteria metabolize its urea content. Various drugs, vegetables, and diseases can alter this smell. For instance, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus can make urine smell fruity due to ketone bodies like acetone.

Typically, urine has a slightly acidic pH of around 6, although this can range from about 4.5 to 8.0 depending on diet and body metabolism. Acidic diets lead to acidic urine, while vegetarian diets or prolonged vomiting can result in alkaline urine.

Lastly, urine's specific gravity, the ratio of its mass to that of an equal volume of distilled water, ranges from 1.001 to 1.035, reflecting its solute concentration. This is higher than the specific gravity of distilled water (1.0) because urine contains solutes in addition to water.

Del capítulo 29:

article

Now Playing

29.16 : Urine: Physical and Chemical Properties

The Urinary System

139 Vistas

article

29.1 : Introducción al sistema urinario

The Urinary System

473 Vistas

article

29.2 : Anatomía externa del riñón

The Urinary System

252 Vistas

article

29.3 : Anatomía interna del riñón

The Urinary System

295 Vistas

article

29.4 : Irrigación de sangre y nervios al riñón

The Urinary System

187 Vistas

article

29.5 : Nefronas

The Urinary System

573 Vistas

article

29.6 : Corpúsculo renal

The Urinary System

326 Vistas

article

29.7 : Túbulo renal y conducto colector

The Urinary System

295 Vistas

article

29.8 : Fisiología de la formación de orina

The Urinary System

638 Vistas

article

29.9 : Filtración glomerular

The Urinary System

359 Vistas

article

29.10 : Filtración glomerular: presión neta de filtración

The Urinary System

338 Vistas

article

29.11 : Tasa de filtración glomerular y su regulación

The Urinary System

786 Vistas

article

29.12 : Reabsorción y secreción tubular

The Urinary System

128 Vistas

article

29.13 : Reabsorción y secreción en el PCT

The Urinary System

271 Vistas

article

29.14 : Reabsorción y secreción en el asa de Henle

The Urinary System

286 Vistas

See More

JoVE Logo

Privacidad

Condiciones de uso

Políticas

Investigación

Educación

ACERCA DE JoVE

Copyright © 2025 MyJoVE Corporation. Todos los derechos reservados