uric acid
Học thuậtThân thiện
A doctor points to a diagram showing uric acid crystals in a patient's joint.
Definition
Noun: A white, tasteless, odorless crystalline substance that is a product of the metabolic breakdown of purines (nitrogen-containing compounds found in certain foods and body tissues). It is found in the blood and urine.
Usage
Uric acid is a specific chemical compound. It is used primarily in medical, biological, and chemical contexts to discuss metabolism, health conditions, and bodily fluids. * High levels of uric acid in the blood can lead to gout. * The doctor ordered a test to measure the uric acid concentration in my urine. * Uric acid is less soluble in water than other waste products.
Advanced Usage
- Hyperuricemia: The medical term for an abnormally high level of uric acid in the blood.
- Uric acid nephrolithiasis: The formation of kidney stones composed of uric acid crystals.
- In zoology, birds and reptiles excrete nitrogenous waste primarily as uric acid, unlike mammals which excrete urea.
Variants and Related Words
- Urate (noun): A salt or ester of uric acid. (e.g., Monosodium urate crystals cause inflammation in gouty joints.)
- Uric (adjective): Of or relating to uric acid. (e.g., The patient has a high uric acid level.)
Synonyms
- 2,6,8-Trioxypurine (scientific/chemical name)
- Purine metabolite (functional description)
Related Phrases
- Uric acid level: A common phrase referring to the concentration of uric acid measured in a blood or urine test.
- Uric acid crystals: The solid form that uric acid can precipitate into within joints or the urinary tract.
A doctor points to a diagram showing uric acid crystals in a patient's joint.
Noun
- a white tasteless odorless crystalline product of protein metabolism; found in the blood and urine