Question

An ionic U/P ratio that is less than 1 indicates that the urine

A. contains more sodium compared to the plasma.
B. contains less sodium compared to the plasma.
C. contains an equal amount of sodium relative to the plasma.
D. appears to contain more sodium compared to the plasma; however, the concentrations are equal.

Answer 1

A U/P ratio less than 1 means the urine has less sodium compared to the plasma, reflecting ion excretion rates and influenced by kidney function and regulatory mechanisms like sodium-potassium pumps.

Step-by-step explanation:

An ionic U/P ratio (urine/plasma ratio) that is less than 1 typically indicates that the urine contains less sodium compared to the plasma.

The urine values reflect the rates of excretion of these ions, such as sodium, potassium, and chloride which are typically analyzed in a routine urine sample.

However, this also depends on the functioning of the kidneys in terms of conserving or excreting water and dissolved particles.

The kidneys play a crucial role in the homeostasis of body fluids by using mechanisms like the sodium-potassium pumps to maintain the balance of ions across cell membranes.