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.

Noun

1. a white tasteless odorless crystalline product of protein metabolism; found in the blood and urine