Final answer:
The specific gravity of a patient with diabetes insipidus, low ADH, or nephritis is expected to be low due to the excretion of large volumes of dilute urine and the reduced ability of the kidneys to concentrate urine.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a patient has diabetes insipidus, low ADH and/or nephritis, you would expect their Specific gravity to be b) Low. Diabetes insipidus is characterized by the excretion of large amounts of dilute urine, which reduces the concentration of solutes and hence lowers the specific gravity. Low levels of ADH, or antidiuretic hormone, result in reduced reabsorption of water in the kidneys, leading to increased urine production and decreased urine concentration. In the case of nephritis, kidney inflammation can also impair the kidneys' ability to concentrate urine, potentially resulting in a lower specific gravity.
The specific gravity of urine typically ranges from 1.005 to 1.030, with pure water having a specific gravity of 1.0. Therefore, a low specific gravity indicates a diluted urine sample, which is common in conditions like diabetes insipidus and when the body's ability to concentrate urine is compromised due to kidney issues.