In alkaline urine, thorny apples refer to which crystals?

Prepare for the VetSkill PCA Lab and Diagnostics Test with study tools like flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Each question comes with hints and explanations. Get exam-ready with us!

Multiple Choice

In alkaline urine, thorny apples refer to which crystals?

Explanation:
Thorny apples describe the jagged, spiky crystals you see in alkaline urine. They are ammonium urate crystals, formed when uric acid combines with ammonium in a basic urinary environment, giving crystals a thorny, apple-like look. This morphology helps distinguish them from other crystals: struvite crystals (common in alkaline urine) look like coffin lids; calcium oxalate crystals have envelope or dumbbell shapes; uric acid crystals tend to appear in acidic urine as rhomboid or rosette forms. So the thorny apple appearance points to ammonium urate crystals.

Thorny apples describe the jagged, spiky crystals you see in alkaline urine. They are ammonium urate crystals, formed when uric acid combines with ammonium in a basic urinary environment, giving crystals a thorny, apple-like look. This morphology helps distinguish them from other crystals: struvite crystals (common in alkaline urine) look like coffin lids; calcium oxalate crystals have envelope or dumbbell shapes; uric acid crystals tend to appear in acidic urine as rhomboid or rosette forms. So the thorny apple appearance points to ammonium urate crystals.

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