Specific gravity is the ratio of what?

The concept of specific gravity is crucial in clinical settings, especially in the analysis of urine. It is defined as the ratio of the density of a substance, in this case, urine, to the density of distilled water. Since distilled water has a specific gravity of 1, the specific gravity of urine provides insight into the concentration of dissolved substances within it, such as electrolytes, urea, and other waste products.

This ratio is an important measure because it helps assess the kidney's ability to concentrate urine and reflects hydration status or potential pathological conditions. A higher specific gravity indicates more concentrated urine, while a lower specific gravity suggests more diluted urine. Therefore, measuring specific gravity through the comparison with distilled water directly relates to the amount of dissolved substances present in the urine.