Normal urine has a specific gravity between 1.010-1.025, indicating the amount of dissolved material, with lower values meaning more diluted urine. The pH of normal urine ranges from 4.6 to 8.0, and diet has the biggest effect on urine pH. Urine is composed of 95% nitrogenous wastes such as urea from amino acid metabolism, creatine from muscle metabolism, and uric acid from nucleic acid metabolism.

1. CHARACTERISTIC DESCRIPTION
AMOUNT
COLOR
SPECIFIC GRAVITY 1.010-1.025 MEASURE OF DISSOLVED
MATERIAL IN URINE. LOWER VALUE = MORE DILUTED URINE
pH pH
DIET HAS BIGGEST EFFECT ON URINE pH
4.6 6 8.0
COMPOSITION (MAKEUP) 95%
NITROGENOUS WASTES
UREA – AMINO ACID METABOLISM
CREATINE – FROM MUSCLE METABOLISM
URIC ACID – FROM NUCLEIC ACID METABOLISM
1-2 liters, depending on intake
Straw/amber (darker, more concentrated)
5% &
TABLE 18-3 CHARACTERISTICS OF NORMAL URINE