1.0 INTRODUCTION
Urine (from latin urina) is a liquid by-product of the body secreted by the kidney through the process called urination or micturition and excreted through the urethra (Arthur and John, 2006) in humans, soluble wastes are excreted primarily by urinary system. (Arthur and John, 2006). The urinary bladder and urethra (Hanno et al; 2001) The major function of the urinary system is to remove waste product from the body and help to regulate the volume and composition of blood by the production and excretion of urine (Rose et al, 2015). The system produces urine by a process of filtration, reabsorbtion and tubular secretion (Simerville et al; 2005). The amount of urine produced is influenced by environmental temperature, fluid intake, emotional state, and time of day and metabolic activities (White, 1991).
Urine is composed of about 95% water with the remaining 5% comprising of various organic and in organic substances such as urea, uric acid, creatine, ammonia, sodium chloride, sulfates and phosphates (Carrol and Temte, 2000). These substances are suppose to be present in some specific proportions which indicate a normal working condition of the body mechanism but in some cases this is not so, some of these substances which are the normal composition of urine may not be present or they may be present in an abnormal proportion (Al-Jebouri and Atalar, 2012).
Micro organism and substances which are not suppose to be found in the urine may be present and these condition indicate various ailments for example the presence of protein, glucose, ketone, casts e.t.c in the urine may indicate malfunction of the kidneys or some other organs of the body (Arthur and John, 2006). These various substances can be detected and analysed by urinalysis (Simerville et al; 2005).
Urinalysis also called a routine urine test is used to check for abnormalities in the urine (Ahmed and lee, 1997). A number of diseases and conditions can result in abnormalities in urine. These abnormalities often may be detected through the physical, chemical and microscopic examination of the urine (Fuller et al 2001).
1.2 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
This research work was carried out to equip the general public with enough knowledge about urine. It is aimed at
knowing the normal constituents of urine and being able to know when certain body process are not working well as well as to identify and examine abnormal urine constituents
1.3 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
This work covers the physical, biochemical and microscopic examination of urine samples obtained from sexually active young adults between the age range of 15-31 and are students of Auchi Polytechnic. It also entails the identification of the various urine components that makes it abnormal.
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The use of this research work would help to enlighten the general public on the abnormalities in urine and the need to carry out routine urinalysis from time to time. This knowledge could lead to the improvement on human health conditions concerning urine related diseases.
1.5 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
In the course of carrying out this project work, some factors militated against the success of the work. These factors includes inadequate laboratory equipment, irregular power supply, low financial capacity and time constrain.
1.6 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Urinalysis: This is the analysis of urine by physical, chemical and microscopical means to test for the presence of disease, drug e.t.c in the body.
URINARY TRACT INFECTION (U.T.I): Is an infection of the kidney, ureter, bladder and/or urethra.
HEMATURIA: This is blood in the urine
CASTS: These are cylindrical structures created by protein precipitation in the renal tubules.