Indicator Explainer
Urea
A nitrogenous compound containing a carbonyl group attached to two amine groups with osmotic diuretic activity. In vivo, urea is formed in the liver via the urea cycle from ammonia and is the final end product of protein metabolism. Administration of urea elevates blood plasma osmolality, resulting in enhanced flow of water from tissues, including the brain, cerebrospinal fluid and eye, into interstitial fluid and plasma, thereby decreasing pressure in those tissues and increasing urine outflow.
This page explains what the indicator is and how results are interpreted in general terms. Reference ranges depend on the laboratory, the method, and your own situation — no single “normal value” applies to everyone. This page is health information, not a diagnosis. For symptoms, treatment, or urgent concerns, contact a healthcare professional.
When it is tested
Source: National Cancer Institute, NCI Thesaurus 26.09d, C29531. NCI definition, reproduced without modification under CC BY 4.0. Source identity and definition checked automatically on 2026-10-18. No individual clinical interpretation or human reviewer is asserted.
Reading results
Reference intervals and interpretation depend on the laboratory, specimen, method and clinical context. This source definition is educational information; it does not establish a diagnosis, product approval or suitability for an individual.
Also Known As
References
- NCI Thesaurus 26.09d — Urea (C29531)
- Source: National Cancer Institute, NCI Thesaurus 26.09d, C29531. NCI definition, reproduced without modification under CC BY 4.0.
- Nature of C─N Coupling in Urea Electrosynthesis for Catalyst Design. — Angew Chem Int Ed Engl, 2026-10-09 (PMID 42855916; literature)
- Modulating Spin-States of Active Catalysts for Efficient Urea Oxidation in Anion Exchange Membrane Electrolyzer. — Small, 2026-10-09 (PMID 42852975; literature)
- Urea/acrylamide-assisted nitrogen-functionalized rice husk biochar for Cd(ii) removal: adsorption performance and interaction insights. — RSC Adv, 2026-10-08 (PMID 42852000; literature)
- La-Mediated Interfacial Electric Field Effect Steers Mesoscopic Mass Transport for Highly Selective Urea Oxidation. — Adv Mater, 2026-10-08 (PMID 42847197; literature)
- A Cytoplasmic pH Sensor Redefines Gating in Bacterial Urea Channels and Acid Resistance. — Small, 2026-10-23 (PMID 42909431; literature)
- Prognostic Performance of the Blood Urea Nitrogen-to-Albumin Ratio and Prognostic Nutritional Index for 30-Day Mortality in Patients with Delirium. — J Acad Consult Liaison Psychiatry, 2026-10-22 (PMID 42914055; literature)
- Reversible Breathing of Cu─Co Dual-Atom Sites Enables Spatially Proximal C─N Coupling for Urea Electrosynthesis. — Angew Chem Int Ed Engl, 2026-10-27 (PMID 42944704; literature)
- ACR11 promotes nitrogen assimilation and protein productivity during urea cultivation in duckweed Lemna minor. — Plant Physiol, 2026-10-27 (PMID 42935244; literature)