Unit 20 Biomedical Science
Learning aim C: Examine the use of urinalysis as an analytical tool and diagnostic
tool
What is urinalysis and why is it so common in medical practices?
It is the analysis of urine by physical, chemical and microscopical means to test for the
presence of diseases, drugs etc. The three types of urine tests that are carried out are
Urinalysis, Rapid urine test (dipping strip) and urine culture. Urinalysis is used because
urine tests are very accessible, easy to carry out and affordable.
Urine is one of the first tests of the first tests ordered when diagnosing and treating
patients as the first urine of the day will have higher levels of bacteria and chemicals and
this allows medical professionals to easily determine any abnormalities.
Homeostasis and osmoregulation
Homeostasis is a system the body uses to remain in a relatively stable state inside the
body of an animal. The organs and organ systems constantly need to adjust to internal
and external changes in order to maintain a steady state. Examples of internal
conditions that must be maintained by homeostasis are glucose levels, body
temperature, blood calcium levels and hormone levels. These conditions are able to
remain stable due to physiologic processes that result in negative feedback. For
example, if blood glucose levels rise, this sends a signal to the organs responsible for
lowering blood glucose levels. The signals will restore them to their normal levels due to
the negative feedback loop. Homeostatic mechanisms keep the body in dynamic
equilibrium constantly by adjusting the body’s systems to what they encounter. Two
examples of factors that are regulated homeostatic ally are temperature and water
content, which are factors called thermoregulation and osmoregulation.
Osmoregulation is the process of maintaining the salt and water balance (osmotic
balance) within the body. The fluids inside the body are composed of water, electrolytes
and non-electrolytes. An electrolyte is a compound that dissociates when dissolved in
water. In contrast, a non-electrolyte does not associate with ions in water. The body’s
fluids include blood plasma, fluid that exists within cells and it exists between the cells
and tissues of the body. The body has a constant input of water and electrolytes into the
system. Excess water, electrolytes and wastes are transported to the kidneys and
excreted, which helps maintain the osmotic balance. Insufficient fluid intake results in
fluid conversation by the kidneys. Without a system to regulate the osmotic balance,
toxic waste and water accumulates which can result in dire consequences.
, The human execratory system functions by removing waste from the body through the
skin as sweat, the lings in the form of exhaled carbon dioxide, and through the urinary
system in the form of urine. Focusing on the urinary system, which is comprised of a
pair of kidneys, the ureter, urinary bladder and the urethra. Each of the kidneys contains
more than a million tiny units of nephrons that filter blood containing metabolic wastes
from cells. All the blood in the body is filtered about 60 times a day by the kidneys. The
nephrons remove waste, concentrate, form urine that is collected in the bladder.
C. D3 Evaluate the use of urinalysis in domestic and clinical settings
Clinical Domestic
Cons Pros Cons
Professional Appointments must Can be purchased Might not always
procedure be made easily yield accurate
results
Capable of A longer and more Can be carried out Only shows limited
detecting the extensive procedure easily information about
presence of content of urine
different
substances i.e.,
protein
Can provide data Expensive due to lab Cost effective More qualitive than
on the severity of equipment needed quantitively data
infection
Can be more A longer procedure Quick Procedure May obtain false
accurate and due to laboratory positive and false
comprehensive testing (microscope) negative results
than domestic
urinalysis
Learning aim C: Examine the use of urinalysis as an analytical tool and diagnostic
tool
What is urinalysis and why is it so common in medical practices?
It is the analysis of urine by physical, chemical and microscopical means to test for the
presence of diseases, drugs etc. The three types of urine tests that are carried out are
Urinalysis, Rapid urine test (dipping strip) and urine culture. Urinalysis is used because
urine tests are very accessible, easy to carry out and affordable.
Urine is one of the first tests of the first tests ordered when diagnosing and treating
patients as the first urine of the day will have higher levels of bacteria and chemicals and
this allows medical professionals to easily determine any abnormalities.
Homeostasis and osmoregulation
Homeostasis is a system the body uses to remain in a relatively stable state inside the
body of an animal. The organs and organ systems constantly need to adjust to internal
and external changes in order to maintain a steady state. Examples of internal
conditions that must be maintained by homeostasis are glucose levels, body
temperature, blood calcium levels and hormone levels. These conditions are able to
remain stable due to physiologic processes that result in negative feedback. For
example, if blood glucose levels rise, this sends a signal to the organs responsible for
lowering blood glucose levels. The signals will restore them to their normal levels due to
the negative feedback loop. Homeostatic mechanisms keep the body in dynamic
equilibrium constantly by adjusting the body’s systems to what they encounter. Two
examples of factors that are regulated homeostatic ally are temperature and water
content, which are factors called thermoregulation and osmoregulation.
Osmoregulation is the process of maintaining the salt and water balance (osmotic
balance) within the body. The fluids inside the body are composed of water, electrolytes
and non-electrolytes. An electrolyte is a compound that dissociates when dissolved in
water. In contrast, a non-electrolyte does not associate with ions in water. The body’s
fluids include blood plasma, fluid that exists within cells and it exists between the cells
and tissues of the body. The body has a constant input of water and electrolytes into the
system. Excess water, electrolytes and wastes are transported to the kidneys and
excreted, which helps maintain the osmotic balance. Insufficient fluid intake results in
fluid conversation by the kidneys. Without a system to regulate the osmotic balance,
toxic waste and water accumulates which can result in dire consequences.
, The human execratory system functions by removing waste from the body through the
skin as sweat, the lings in the form of exhaled carbon dioxide, and through the urinary
system in the form of urine. Focusing on the urinary system, which is comprised of a
pair of kidneys, the ureter, urinary bladder and the urethra. Each of the kidneys contains
more than a million tiny units of nephrons that filter blood containing metabolic wastes
from cells. All the blood in the body is filtered about 60 times a day by the kidneys. The
nephrons remove waste, concentrate, form urine that is collected in the bladder.
C. D3 Evaluate the use of urinalysis in domestic and clinical settings
Clinical Domestic
Cons Pros Cons
Professional Appointments must Can be purchased Might not always
procedure be made easily yield accurate
results
Capable of A longer and more Can be carried out Only shows limited
detecting the extensive procedure easily information about
presence of content of urine
different
substances i.e.,
protein
Can provide data Expensive due to lab Cost effective More qualitive than
on the severity of equipment needed quantitively data
infection
Can be more A longer procedure Quick Procedure May obtain false
accurate and due to laboratory positive and false
comprehensive testing (microscope) negative results
than domestic
urinalysis
