Final answer:
Specific gravity in the urine measures the density of dissolved solutes, which can indicate various medical conditions based on whether the value is high or low.
Step-by-step explanation:
Specific gravity is a measure of dissolved solutes in the urine. It reflects the ratio of the density of the urine to the density of water, which has a specific gravity of 1.0. Elevated specific gravity indicates that a higher than normal amount of substances is dissolved in the urine, which could be due to dehydration, diarrhea, or infection.
Conversely, a lowered specific gravity suggests a below-normal concentration of solutes, which could be associated with medical conditions such as renal failure. It is crucial for doctors to monitor the specific gravity as both high and low values outside the normal range could indicate underlying health issues.