Characteristics of Urine MCQ - Practice Questions with Answers

Physical Properties:

• The quantity of urine depends on the water intake, external temperature, the diet and the in­dividual’s mental and physical condition
• A high protein diet increases excretion be­cause the urea formed as a result of catabolism of protein has a diuretic action.
• The diuretic action of tea, coffee and co­coa is due to caffeine.
• The decreased volume of urine in hot weather is due to an increased loss of wa­ter by perspiration.
• Increased urine volumes are observed in diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus and certain types of kidney diseases and de­creased volumes are found in acute ne­phritis, fevers, diseases of the heart, diarrhoea and vomiting.
• Normal urine is pale yellow or amber. Very dilute urine is colour­less.
• The colour of the urine is caused by the pigment urochrome. It is a breakdown product of haemoglobin.
• The pH range of urine is normally between 4.5 and 8.2.
• Fresh urine is normally aromatic.
• The ammoniacal smell of urine is due to the action of bacteria on urea.
• The smell of urine is due to urinode 

Chemical Properties:

• About 95% of the volume of urine is water.
• Nitrogen, urea, creatine, creatinine, ammonia, uric acid, hippuric acid, oxalic acid, amino acids, allantoin, vitamins, hormones and enzymes are the organic compounds present in urine.
• Chloride, phosphate, sulphate, potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, iodine, etc. are some inorganic compounds present in urine.
• Glucose is not normally found in urine.