Specific Gravity Of Urine Flashcards, test questions and answers
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What is Specific Gravity Of Urine?
Urine is a liquid waste product that is produced by the kidneys in order to eliminate toxins and excess water from the body. It consists primarily of urea, salts, and water. The specific gravity of urine is a measure of how dense the urine sample is compared to pure water. It can be used as an indicator of health or disease due to changes in urinary composition or concentration caused by abnormal kidney function, dehydration, or certain diseases.The normal range for specific gravity in humans is 1.0021.030 g/mL at 37°C (98°F). Values lower than 1 indicate dilute urine due to excessive hydration or excessive excretion of electrolytes such as sodium, potassium and chloride; values greater than 1 indicate concentrated urine due to dehydration or inadequate secretion of electrolytes. A low specific gravity may be seen with severe dehydration, renal failure, diabetes mellitus, adrenal insufficiency and other diseases associated with impaired kidney function; high specific gravity can result from diuretic therapy, pre-renal azotemia (kidney injury), congestive heart failure and other conditions associated with fluid retention and decreased urinary output. Specific gravity can also vary based on diet and activity level. Eating a high-sodium diet will typically result in higher specificgravity readings since more sodium will be excreted through the kidneys into the bladder; conversely, drinking large amounts of fluids before testing can produce lower readings because more water will dilute the solutes present in the urine sample leading to a decrease in overall density. In conclusion, measuring specific gravity of urine can provide valuable information about overall health status as well as any changes that may have occurred over time due to dietary modifications or medical treatments.