| Urine | n. [ F. urine, L. urina; akin to urinari to plunge under water, to dive, Gr. &unr_; urine; cf. Skr. vār water, Icel. &unr_;r drizzling rain, AS. wær the sea. ] (Physiol.) In mammals, a fluid excretion from the kidneys; in birds and reptiles, a solid or semisolid excretion. [ 1913 Webster ] ☞ In man, the urine is a clear, transparent fluid of an amber color and peculiar odor, with an average density of 1.02. The average amount excreted in 24 hours is from 40 to 60 ounces (about 1, 200 cubic centimeters). Chemically, the urine is mainly an aqueous solution of urea, salt (sodium chloride), and uric acid, together with some hippuric acid and peculiar pigments. It usually has an acid reaction, owing to the presence of acid phosphates of soda or free uric acid. Normally, it contains about 960 parts of water to 40 parts of solid matter, and the daily average excretion is 35 grams (540 grains) of urea, 0.75 gram (11 grains) of uric acid, and 16.5 grams (260 grains) of salt. Abnormally, it may contain sugar as in diabetes, protein as in Bright's disease, bile pigments as in jaundice, or abnormal quantities of some one or more of the normal constituents. [ 1913 Webster ] |
