What are urinary sediments?

Urinary sediments refer specifically to solid particles that are suspended in urine. These solid components can include a variety of cellular and non-cellular elements such as red blood cells, white blood cells, epithelial cells, bacteria, crystals, and casts. The presence and types of these sediments can provide significant diagnostic information regarding a patient's health, particularly concerning the kidneys and urinary tract.

Liquid components, including water and various solutes such as electrolytes and metabolic waste products, make up the majority of urine but do not constitute sediments. Filtered plasma components are also not classified as sediments; rather, they represent substances suspended in the liquid part of urine. Gas bubbles, while they can appear in certain pathological conditions, are not a characteristic feature of urinary sediments either.

Thus, identifying urinary sediments as solid particles found in urine is crucial for urine analysis, offering insight into underlying health conditions and guiding further diagnostic and treatment decisions.