Microscopic Examination of Urine Sediment Part II

RBC

RBC

colorless, non-nucleated , smooth biconcave disk

RBC

Side view: hourglass shape

Top view: disk with central pallor

RBC

RBC

RBC

RBC

RBC

RBC

RBC

Dysmorphic RBC

RBC with protrusion or fragmentation

Dysmorphic RBC

WBC

Granular spheres with multi-lobed nucleus

WBC

WBC

Glitter cells

WBC

WBC

WBC

WBC

WBC in clumps

Squamous EC

Large, flat, abundant cytoplasm, small round central nuclei

Squamous EC

Squamous EC

Squamous EC

Clue cells

squamous epith cells covered with Gardnerella vaginalis

Clue cells

Transitional EC

Round, pear shape, polyhedral with tail like projections (caudate)

Transitional EC

Transitional EC

RTE from PCT

rectangular shape

columnar or convoluted

coarsely granular cytoplasm

RTE from PCT

RTE from DCT

Round or oval (oblong or egg shaped) cells w/ coarse granules

eccentrically placed round nucleus

RTE from DCT

RTE from CT

cuboidal or polygonal

w/ slightly eccentric nucleus

One straight edge

RTE from CT

Oval Fat Bodies

Lipid-containing RTE

Oval Fat Bodies

Oval Fat Bodies

Oval Fat Bodies

Bacteria

Usually rod-shaped because enteric organisms are the common causes of UTI

Bacteria

Bacteria

Yeast cells

Ovoid, colorless cells; resemble RBCs

Yeast cells

Yeast cells

Yeast cells

Yeast cells

Yeast cells

Yeast cells

Trichomonas vaginalis

Pear-shaped/turnip-shaped flagellate

exhibits jerky motility in fresh urine

Schistosoma haematobium

Bladder parasite

Enterobius vermicularis

Pinworm

Trichomonas vaginalis

Enterobius vermicularis

Schistosoma haematobium

Trichomonas vaginalis

Enterobius vermicularis

Schistosoma haematobium

Sperm cells

oval, slightly tapered heads

long, flagella-like tails

Sperm cells

Sperm cells

Mucus/Mucus Threads

thread-like structures with a low refractive index

longer , ribbonlike with poorly defined edges and pointed/split ends

Mucus/Mucus Threads

Mucus/Mucus Threads

Mucus/Mucus Threads

Cast

Cylindrical w/ parallel sides and rounded ends

Cast

Urinary casts

Urinary casts

Hyaline cast

colorless, homogenous matrix with rounded ends

Hyaline cast

Hyaline cast

Hyaline cast

Hyaline cast

Waxy cast

Refractile with rigid texture, frequent cracks and convolutions

Brittle appearance

Waxy cast

Waxy cast

Granular cast

Cast matrix with small, fine granules or large coarse granules

Coarsely granular cast

Finely granular cast

Granular cast

Granular cast

Coarsely granular cast

Finely granular cast

Fatty cast

Protein matrix with oval fat bodies or fat droplets

Maltese cross formation

Fatty cast

RBC cast

RBC cast

RBC cast

RBC cast

WBC cast

WBC cast

WBC cast

WBC cast

Epithelial cell cast

Mixed cast

2 distinct cell types present within a single cast

Mixed cast

Broad cast

Amorphous urates

“brickdust”

Amorphous urates