Three urine samples are shown. The one at the left shows a red, cloudy appearance. The one in the center is red but clear. The one on the right is yellow, but cloudy.
These are oxalate crystals, which look like little envelopes (or tetrahedrons, depending upon your point of view). Oxalate crystals are common.
These "triple phosphate" crystals look like rectangles, or coffin lids if you are feeling depressed.
These cystine crystals are shaped like stop signs. Cystine crystals are quite rare.
Red blood cells in urine appear as refractile disks. With hypertonicity of the urine, the RBC's begin to have a crenated appearance
Note the irregular outlines of many of these RBC's, compared to two relatively normal RBC's at the center left of the right panel. These abnormal RBC's are dysmorphic RBC's.
These white blood cells in urine have lobed nuclei and refractile cytoplasmic granules.
Oval fat bodies consist of degenerated tubular cells containing abundant lipid, which appears refractile.
Under polarized light, oval fat bodies demonstrate the "Maltese cross" appearance.
Large polygonal squamous epithelial cells with small nuclei are seen here.
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