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Multiple Choice
Which substance would NOT normally be expected in urine?
A
water
B
uric acid
C
sodium
D
potassium
E
protein
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the composition of normal urine: Urine is primarily composed of water, along with various dissolved substances such as urea, uric acid, creatinine, sodium, and potassium. These are waste products filtered from the blood by the kidneys.
Identify the role of proteins in the body: Proteins are large molecules that perform a variety of functions, including acting as enzymes, hormones, and structural components. They are typically retained in the bloodstream and not filtered into the urine under normal conditions.
Consider the filtration process in the kidneys: The kidneys filter blood through structures called nephrons. The glomerulus, a part of the nephron, acts as a sieve, allowing small molecules like water, sodium, and potassium to pass through while retaining larger molecules like proteins.
Recognize conditions that might lead to protein in urine: Proteinuria, the presence of protein in urine, can occur due to kidney damage or disease, which affects the filtration barrier, allowing proteins to pass into the urine.
Conclude why protein is not normally found in urine: Under normal physiological conditions, proteins are too large to pass through the glomerular filtration barrier, hence they are not expected to be present in urine.