The Revision Guide for Student Nurses (Part I)

Crystals & Casts

QUESTIONS

  1. Where are casts formed?
  2. What is the main component of casts?
  3. What are the 4 types of cast?
  4. Are casts generally found in alkaline or acid urine?
  5. Of the casts listed above, which are normally present in urine in small numbers?
  6. What might a large percentage of hyaline casts represent?
  7. What might the presence of cellular casts in the urine indicate?
  8. What might the presence of granular casts in the urine indicate?
  9. Waxy casts are very uncommon. Under what circumstances might they be seen?
  10. Define crystalluria.
  11. What are crystals made of?
  12. From what are uroliths composed?
  13. What is urolithiasis?
  14. How could you increase the likelihood of confirming the presence of crystals in a urine sample?
  15. What is the most common type of crystal seen in cats?
  16. What breed of dog is most commonly predisposed to struvite crystalluria?
  17. Struvite usually forms in alkaline urine. What other type of crystal most commonly forms in this environment?
  18. What dog breeds are predisposed to ammonium urate crystals?
  19. What shape describes ammonium urate crystals?
  20. What type of poisoning may result in the formation of calcium oxalate crystals?
  21. What type of crystal may be in evidence in cases of acute hepatic damage?
  22. It is vital that urine samples are fresh, since crystals may form in urine after collection. State the reasons for this.