Normal Components

Urine is an aqueous solution of greater than 95% water, with a minimum of these remaining
constituents, in order of decreasing concentration:

Urea 9.3 g/L.

Chloride 1.87 g/L.

Sodium 1.17 g/L.

Potassium 0.750 g/L.

Creatinine 0.670 g/L .

Other dissolved ions, inorganic and organic compounds (proteins, hormones,

metabolites).

Urine is sterile until it reaches the urethra, where epithelial cells lining the urethra are colonized
by facultatively anaerobic gram-negative rods and cocci. Urea is essentially a processed form of
ammonia that is non-toxic to mammals, unlike ammonia, which can be highly toxic. It is
processed from ammonia and carbon dioxide in the liver.

Urine is aprox. 95% water.

The other components of normal urine are the solutes that are dissolved in the water component
of the urine. These solutes can be divided into two categories according to their chemical
structure (e.g. size and electrical charge).

Organic molecules are electrically neutral and can be relatively large (compared with the
'simpler' ions - below).
These include:

Urea - Urea is an organic (i.e. carbon-based) compound whose chemical formula is:
CON2H4 or (NH2)2CO. It is also known as carbamide. Urea is derived from ammonia and
produced by the deamination of amino acids. The amount of urea in urine is related to
quantity of dietary protein.

Creatinine - Creatinine is a normal (healthy) constituent of blood. It is produced mainly

as a result of the breakdown of creatine phosphate in muscle tissue. It is usually produced
by the body at a fairly constant rate (which depends on the muscle mass of the body).
 Uric acid - Uric acid is an organic (i.e. carbon-based) compound whose chemical
formula is: C5H4N4O3.
Due to its insolubility, uric acid has a tendency to crystallize, and is a common part of
kidney stones.

Other substances/molecules - Example of other substances that may be found in small

amounts in normal urine include carbohydrates, enzymes, fatty acids, hormones,
pigments, and mucins (a group of large, heavily glycosylated proteins found in the body).

Ions are atoms or groups of atoms that have either, lost some outer electrons, hence have a
positive electric charge, or have gained some outer electrons (to the atom or group of atoms), and
hence have a negative electric charge. Even in the cases of ions formed by groups of atoms (they
are ions due to the few lost or gained electrons), the groups are formed from only a small number
of particles and therefore tend to be relatively small.
These include:

Individual elements:

Sodium (Na+) : Amount in urine varies with diet and the amount of aldosterone (a steroid
hormone) in the body.

Potassium (K+) : Amount in urine varies with diet and the amount of aldosterone (a
steroid hormone) in the body.

Chloride (Cl-) : Amount in urine varies with dietart intake (chloride is a part of common
salt, NaCl).

Magnesium (Mg2+) : Amount in urine varies with diet and the amount of parathyroid
hormone in the body. (Parathyroid hormone increases the reabsorption of magnesium by
the body, which therefore decreases the quantity of magnesium in urine.)

Calcium (Ca2+) : Amount in urine varies with diet and the amount of parathyroid
hormone in the body. (Parathyroid hormone increases the reabsorption of calcium by the
body, which therefore decreases the quantity of calcium in urine.)

Small groups formed from a few different elements:

Ammonium (NH4+) : The amount of ammonia produced by the kidneys may vary
 according to the pH of the blood and tissues in the body.

Sulphates (SO42-) : Sulphates are derived from amino acids. The quantity of sulphates
excreted in urine varies according to the quantity and type of protein in the person's diet.

Phosphates (H2PO4-, HPO42-, PO43-) : Amount in urine varies with the amount of
parathyroid hormone in the body - parathyroid hormone increases the quantity of
phosphates in urine.

Abnormal Components
Normally, urine contains water and wastes, such as urea, uric acid, creatinine, and
some ions. However, some of these substances may be abnormally elevated, which
usually indicates that something is wrong with the body.

The following are some of the abnormal constituents of urine and some possible
causes.

Albumin

Albumin is a type of protein, which is a normal component of plasmathe fluid

component of blood. When albumin is found to be excessive in the urine, it may
indicate that the tiny filtering units in the kidney, called nephrons, are damaged or
destroyed. Elevated albumin in the urine is termed albuminuria.

Bilrubin

Bilirubin, when modified by the kidneys, contributes to the classical yellow color of
urine. It is a byproduct that results from the breakdown of hemoglobinthe red
pigment in red blood cells. When levels of bilirubin in urine is above normal, the
condition is called bilirubinuria. This may indicate liver disease or obstructive biliary
disease.

Glucose

The presence of glucose or blood sugar in urine is called glucosuria. It may indicate
that the person has diabetes.

Ketone bodies

The presence of ketone bodies in the urine may indicate diabetes or anorexia. It
may also be elevated during fasting and starvation.

Microbes

The presence of microorganisms, such as bacteria or fungus may indicate urinary

tract infection.

Blood

The red blood cells in blood should not be found in urine because they are too large
to pass through the nephrons. Hematuria is the clinical term used when red blood
cells are present in the urine. It may indicate damage to the kidney, such as in renal
or kidney disease. Sometimes, blood may be present because of the presence of
kidney stones.

White blood cells

When white blood cells are present in the urine, it may indicate infections in the
kidney or other organs of the urinary tract.