Urinalysis Hands on Lab Assignment Introduction: The million nephrons in each of your kidneys form urine and which allows the body to get rid of metabolic wastes from blood and maintain homeostasis by regulating blood pH, water volume and ion concentrations in blood. Urinalysis is a standard test that can determine if the urine formation is normal or abnormal. In doing this lab we can determine the volume of urine, chemical and physical properties, and microscopic composition along with levels of some metabolic waste materials in blood. Pre-activity There are three processes for making urine, glomerular filtration, tubular reabsorption, and tubular secretion. Below, for each of the processes below, define them and describe where they occur in the nephron. 1. Glomerular Filtration 2. Tubular Reabsorption 3. Tubular Secretion Activity 1: The Nephron Make a hand drawn picture of the nephron, make sure to include all of the structures and information listed below. A. Renal corpuscle B. Renal tubule C. Location of glomerular filtration D. Location and directional arrow of tubular reabsorption E. Location and directional arrow of tubular secretion F. Proximal convoluted tubule G. Distal convoluted tubule H. Glomerular capsule (Bowman’s capsule) I. Collecting duct J. Ascending loop of Henle K. Descending loop of Henle Post your labeled picture here. Activity 2: Renal Reabsorption and Secretion Using pages 970-988 in your lecture book and these videos Urinary System 1 (opens window) and Urinary System 2 (opens window) use the table below to predict the difference in osmolarity between the filtrate in the glomerular capsule and the other regions of the nephron. Will it be higher, lower, the same as, or dependent on hormones? For example, looking at the first structure in the table, does the filtrate found at the beginning of the proximal convoluted tubule have a higher/lower/same as the filtrate found in the glomerular capsule or does it depend on the hormones present? Nephron structure Glomerular Capsule Beginning of proximal convoluted tubule End of proximal convoluted tubule End of the descending limb of the Loop of Henle End of the ascending limb of the Loop of Henle Distal convoluted tubule Collecting duct Table 1: Filtrate Osmolarity Comparison Activity One and Two Conclusion Questions 1. What is filtrate? What does it contain? 2. There are several substances in blood that are not filtered in the glomerulus. What are these substances? What prevents them from being filtered out? (Hint: think about the type of capillary makes up the glomerulus.) 3. What factors play a part in glomerular filtration rate? What is the main factor that determines the rate of glomerular filtration? How is the glomerular filtration rate regulated? 4. Explain the countercurrent mechanism for urine concentration. Make sure you address 1. What is being added to or removed from the filtrate in the Loop of Henle and how that happens. 2. Compar ...

1. Urinalysis Hands on Lab Assignment
Introduction:
The million nephrons in each of your kidneys form urine and
which allows the body to get rid of metabolic wastes from blood
and maintain homeostasis by regulating blood pH, water volume
and ion concentrations in blood. Urinalysis is a standard test
that can determine if the urine formation is normal or abnormal.
In doing this lab we can determine the volume of urine,
chemical and physical properties, and microscopic composition
along with levels of some metabolic waste materials in blood.
Pre-activity
There are three processes for making urine, glomerular
filtration, tubular reabsorption, and tubular secretion. Below,
for each of the processes below, define them and describe where
they occur in the nephron.
1. Glomerular Filtration
2. Tubular Reabsorption
3. Tubular Secretion
Activity 1: The Nephron
Make a hand drawn picture of the nephron, make sure to include
all of the structures and information listed below.
A. Renal corpuscle
B. Renal tubule
C. Location of glomerular filtration
D. Location and directional arrow of tubular reabsorption
E. Location and directional arrow of tubular secretion
F. Proximal convoluted tubule
G. Distal convoluted tubule
H. Glomerular capsule (Bowman’s capsule)
I. Collecting duct
J. Ascending loop of Henle
K. Descending loop of Henle

2. Post your labeled picture here.
Activity 2: Renal Reabsorption and Secretion
Using pages 970-988 in your lecture book and these videos
Urinary System 1 (opens window) and Urinary System 2 (opens
window) use the table below to predict the difference in
osmolarity between the filtrate in the glomerular capsule and
the other regions of the nephron. Will it be higher, lower, the
same as, or dependent on hormones? For example, looking at
the first structure in the table, does the filtrate found at the
beginning of the proximal convoluted tubule have a
higher/lower/same as the filtrate found in the glomerular
capsule or does it depend on the hormones present?
Nephron structure
Glomerular Capsule
Beginning of proximal convoluted tubule
End of proximal convoluted tubule
End of the descending limb of the Loop of Henle
End of the ascending limb of the Loop of Henle
Distal convoluted tubule
Collecting duct
Table 1: Filtrate Osmolarity Comparison
Activity One and Two Conclusion Questions
1. What is filtrate? What does it contain?
2. There are several substances in blood that are not filtered in
the glomerulus. What are these substances? What prevents them
from being filtered out? (Hint: think about the type of
capillary makes up the glomerulus.)

3. 3. What factors play a part in glomerular filtration rate? What
is the main factor that determines the rate of glomerular
filtration? How is the glomerular filtration rate regulated?
4. Explain the countercurrent mechanism for urine
concentration. Make sure you address 1. What is being added to
or removed from the filtrate in the Loop of Henle and how that
happens. 2. Compare the osmolarity of the filtrate at the
beginning and end of the Loop of Henle, explain why you go
that answer. Make sure this is in your own words.
5. What does ADH determine in regards to the filtrate
osmolarity? Where do we see this effect most in the nephron?
Explain how ADH causes this effect to occur.
Activity 3: Urinalysis
Normal urine is composed of water, urea, creatinine, uric acid,
electrolytes and occasionally small amounts of hormones,
pigments, carbohydrates, fatty acid, mucous and some enzymes.
In this activity you will examine the physical characteristics of
your own urine sample. You will observe color, cloudiness and
odor. You will then compare your sample to a chart showing
normal characteristics of urine.
Materials Needed:
· Urinalysis Test Strip
· Test Strip Analysis Key
· Paper cup for urine sample
· Paper Towel
Procedure:
1. Get a small cup to in which to collect your urine sample.
2. Before collecting, void a small amount of urine from your
bladder to clear the urethra of any contaminants such as bacteria
or menstrual blood.
3. Void into the small cup and wash your hands.
a. Observe the physical characteristics of your urine sample and
record the information into the data table (below).
i. The color of your urine

4. ii. Turbidity (is it cloudy)
4. To test the chemical properties of your urine.
a. Submerge the dip stick into your urine for approximately 10
seconds.
b. Record the following characteristics in the data table (below).
i. pH
ii. specific gravity
iii. glucose
iv. blood
v. protein
vi. bilirubin
vii. leukocytes
5. After you have finished the analysis of the test strip
Images
Make sure you provide at least two pictures of you doing the lab
and your results.
Data Table
For the data table, you must research what the normal values or
properties for each characteristics. Input your results in the
analyzed values column. Finally, you must explain the
significance of each characteristic and why these values are
used during to analyze urine.
Characteristics
Normal Values
Analyzed Values
Significance
Urine color
Turbidity

5. pH
Specific gravity
Glucose
Blood
Protein
Bilirubin
Leukocytes
Table 2: Urine AnalysisResources to help you complete your
analysis:
If you are using the urinalysis strip we provided, below is the
key to read the results.

6. Figure 1: 10 Parameter Urinalysis Strip Key
Urinalysis Conclusion Questions
1. What makes urine have a higher specific gravity than
distilled water?
2. If student’s urine shows positive for glucose, is this normal?
Explain what could be the cause of the excess glucose?
3. Is normal daytime urine output diluted or concentrated?