Urea

A compound (CO(NH2)2), formed in the liver from ammonia produced by the deamination of amino acids. It is the principal end product of protein catabolism and constitutes about one half of the total urinary solids.


The end-product of nitrogen metabolism, excreted in the urine.


Chief nitrogenous constituent of urine.


The chief end product of protein metabolism and one of the chief nitrogenous constituents in urine.


Waste product of amino acid degradation.


A by-product of the metabolism of protein in the liver; the principal waste product in urine. Urea is normally filtered from the blood by the kidneys and excreted in urine. An accumulation of urea in the blood, a condition called uremia, is a sign of kidney failure.


The main breakdown product of protein metabolism. It is the chemical form in which unrequired nitrogen is excreted by the body in the urine. Urea is formed in the liver from ammonia and carbon dioxide in a series of enzyme-mediated reactions (the urea cycle). Accumulation of urea in the bloodstream together with other nitrogenous compounds is due to kidney failure and gives rise to uremia.


Urea, or carbomide, is a crystalline substance of the chemical formula CO(NH2)2, which is very soluble in water or alcohol. It is the chief waste product discharged from the body in the urine, being formed in the liver and carried to the kidneys in the blood. The amount varies considerably with the quantity and nature of the food taken, rising greatly upon an animal (protein) diet. It also rises during the continuance of a fever. The average amount excreted daily by a healthy adult on a mixed diet is about 33-35 grams. Kidney failure causes a rise in the concentration of urea in the blood.


The diamide of carbonic acid, a crystalline solid having the formula CH4N20; found in blood, lymph, and urine.


A substance produced as a byproduct of nitrogen metabolism within the body and typically eliminated by the kidneys is referred to as urea. In instances of kidney failure, the levels of urea in the bloodstream elevate.


A byproduct generated through the degradation of proteins. Dietary proteins are broken down into amino acids during digestion. Within the liver, surplus amino acids are transformed into urea, which is transported via the bloodstream to the kidneys and subsequently eliminated in the urine. A diet rich in protein results in an elevation of urea production.


Under normal circumstances, the kidneys excel at removing urea from the body. Well-functioning kidneys can manage heightened urea production, but in cases of kidney failure, this capacity diminishes, resulting in uraemia (excessively elevated blood levels of urea). Consequently, assessing blood urea levels might form part of routine kidney function tests.


Urea is additionally produced within the body through the degradation of cellular proteins. In cases where there is a significant rise in urea stemming from this origin (such as when extensive tissue damage occurs due to injury or surgery), the kidneys might struggle to manage the situation, leading to the onset of uraemia.


Specific situations (like liver impairment) can result in a reduction of urea levels in the bloodstream. Urea concentrations in the blood also decline during pregnancy, as the blood becomes comparatively more diluted than usual.


Urea finds application in a range of creams and ointments designed to hydrate and enhance the suppleness of the skin in conditions like psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, ichthyosis, and other instances characterized by dry and flaky skin.


The primary nitrogen-containing substance in urine and the main result of protein metabolism in the body, also known as carbamide.


 


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