Urinalysis
Unit 20: Biomedical Science
Assignment 3
Workbook
P
, Task 1: Clearly explain how urine production helps to maintain normal biochemical values
in the human body (e.g. by the conservation or excretion of water and inorganic ions and
the reabsorption or excretion of organic solutes). Link your findings to explain why
urinalysis is often the first test used in diagnosing and treating medical conditions.
Osmoregulation is the process of regulating your water and salt levels to optimal levels. Osmoregulation is important
because our water and salt levels in the blood can increase or decrease, and we need to regulate these levels and keep
the concentration the same levels inside the cells as well as outside of the cells so too much water doesn’t leave or
enter the cells. If our water levels are detected to be too high, the hypothalamus will NOT send signals to the pituitary
gland. This means that there will not be as much ADH produced. This then means that less ADH will travel to the kidneys
and less water will be reabsorbed by the tubules and then into the bloodstream. This means more water will stay in the
tubules and the kidney will have more waste product. This means we will produce more urine to try and get rid of the
urine from our body to decrease the concentration of water in the bloodstream.
Ultrafiltration is a process which occurs in the kidneys, which separates metabolic waste from the blood. The products
that are extracted from the blood and removed from the body are- urea, salt, water and glucose. These products are
removed as too much of these products can cause complications such as diabetes and high blood pressure. The kidneys
then reabsorb the organic solutes as our body needs these to maintain homeostasis. Reabsorption moves water and
solutes from the tubule back into the plasma so we can keep these important organic ions in our body. The kidneys filter
and separate products as we can excel the dangerous and unnecessary products (such as urea) and keep in the vital
nutrients (such as water). Ultrafiltration is important because the filtration acts as a barrier to separate inorganic
ions, urea, nitrogenous waste, toxic and harmful substances from the bloodstream, whilst keeping in important
nutrients in the body. Ultrafiltration is important to help the body maintain homeostasis .
, Urinalysis is often the first test used is diagnosis and treatment of conditions because urinalysis can detect a wide
range of disorders, with being able to check the appearance, concentration and content of urine. This is because your
urine has indicators, such as visual indicators. For instance, you can visually detect if a person is dehydrated if their
urine is dark yellow/ orange whereas if your urine is light yellow, this is an indication of hydration. You can also see if
you have an indication of liver or kidney problems just by the appearance of urine. For example, if urine is examined
and it is cloudy and separated then this is a sign of a kidney issue whereas if your urine is very dark orange, such as an
amber colour, then this could indicate potential liver problems. Urinalysis tests are also very quick, with patients
receiving rapid results which is a positive, especially if a patient is feeling pain and discomfort from their condition.
Urine tests are also very simple, being pain free and very cheap so they are very easy to carry out and very affordable.
Urine tests are also reliable, giving either a diagnosis, no diagnosis or further research into the cause of the problem.
Urine tests are reliable because there are options of having a doctor carry out urinalysis or a lab carrying out urinalysis.
Depending what you are looking for or trying to diagnose will indicate where your urine sample will be sent off too.
Urinalysis is used clinically and domestically because urine tests are very easy to purchase, easy to carry out and are
affordable. Urinalysis can diagnose a wide range of health issues such as: urinary tract infections, kidney disease,
dehydration, pregnancy, diabetes, STI's and liver disease. A urinalysis can also detect conditions and diseases before
you experience any symptoms and can potentially save and improve the future of your life.
