RENAL CALCULI

Introduction

Kidneys are important parts of the body. Their function is to remove waste and toxic substances
from the blood and passing out the liquid called urine. The journey of urine starts from the
kidney to the bladder through ureter and then exit through the urethra. If there are more of
certain waste materials in the urine, these substances form crystals and then finally the stones.

The site of the pain depends on the location of the stones which may vary from kidney to any of
the urine tubes i.e. ureter or urethra. The pain occurs in the form of renal colic and is usually
gripping type of unbearable ache.

Kidney function

Blood from the aorta reaches the kidneys so it can be filtered and cleaned. Among other
functions, the kidneys remove toxins, metabolic waste, and excess ions from the blood which
leaves the body in the form of urine.
Kidney stones are stone-like lumps that can develop in one or both of the kidneys. The medical
name for stones in the kidneys is nephrolithiasis. If the stones cause severe pain, this is known as
renal colic. 

The kidneys 

The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs that are roughly four inches in length. They are located
towards the back of the abdomen (stomach) on either side of the spine.

The kidneys remove waste products from the blood and transfer them into the ureter, along with
excess fluids. The ureter is the tube that attaches each kidney to the bladder. From there, the
waste products and excess fluid are disposed of as urine. The clean blood is then transferred back
into the body.

Kidney stones

The waste products in the kidneys can occasionally form crystals that collect around the inside of
the kidney. Over time, the crystals may build up to form a hard stone-like lump. This is a kidney
stone.

There are four main types of kidney stone. See Kidney stones - symptoms for more information
about the different types of kidney stones.

How common are kidney stones?

Kidney stones are quite common and usually affect people who are between 30 and 60 years of
age. They affect men more than women. It is estimated that renal colic (severe pain caused by a
kidney stone) affects about 10-20% of men, and 3-5% of women. 

Outlook 

After a kidney stone has formed, your body will try to pass it in urine, so it will often travel
through the urinary system. The urinary system produces, stores and removes urine. The urinary
system is made up of the kidneys, the ureters, the bladder and the urethra (the tube that carries
urine from the bladder to the outside of the body).

While small stones may be passed out in the urine, it is fairly common for a stone to block part
of the urinary system, such as the ureter or the urethra. If this happens, it can cause severe pain in
the abdomen or groin. A blockage in the urinary system can also lead to:

 infection
 kidney damage
 kidney failure 

There are several procedures to remove, or break down, larger kidney stones. Around half of
people who have had kidney stones will experience them again within the following 10 years.

 hide glossary terms

Glossary

Kidney
Kidneys are a pair of bean-shaped organs located at the back of the abdomen. They
remove waste and extra fluid from the blood and pass them out of the body as urine.
Abdomen
The abdomen is the part of the body between the chest and the hips.
Spine
The spine supports the skeleton, and surrounds and protects the delicate spinal cord and
nerves. It is made up of 33 bones called the vertebrae.
Blood
Blood supplies oxygen to the body and removes carbon dioxide. It is pumped around the
body by the heart.
Bladder
The bladder is a small organ near the pelvis that holds urine until it's ready to be passed
from the body.
Urethra
The urethra is a tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body.
Pain
Pain is an unpleasant physical or emotional feeling that your body produces as a warning
that it's been damaged.
Groin
 The groin is the area at the front of the body where the thigh meets the abdomen.

Kidney stones, one of the most painful of the urologic disorders, are not a product of modern life.
Scientists have found evidence of kidney stones in a 7,000-year-old Egyptian mummy. Unfortunately,
kidney stones are one of the most common disorders of the urinary tract; more than 1 million cases
were diagnosed in 1996. An estimated 10 percent of people in the United States will have a kidney
stone at some point in their lives. Men tend to be affected more frequently than women.

Most kidney stones pass out of the body without any intervention by a physician. Stones that cause
lasting symptoms or other complications may be treated by various techniques, most of which do not
involve major surgery. Also, research advances have led to a better understanding of the many factors
that promote stone formation.

Introduction to the Urinary Tract

The urinary tract, or system, consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder,

and urethra. The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs located below
the ribs toward the middle of the back. The kidneys remove extra water
and wastes from the blood, converting it to urine. They also keep a
stable balance of salts and other substances in the blood. The kidneys
produce hormones that help build strong bones and help form red
blood cells.

Narrow tubes called ureters carry urine from the kidneys to the
bladder, a triangle-shaped chamber in the lower abdomen. Like a The Urinary Tract.
balloon, the bladder's elastic walls stretch and expand to store urine.
They flatten together when urine is emptied through the urethra to
outside the body.

What Is a Kidney Stone?

A kidney stone is a hard mass developed from crystals that separate from the urine and build up on
the inner surfaces of the kidney. Normally, urine contains chemicals that prevent the crystals from
forming. These inhibitors do not seem to work for everyone, however, so some people form stones. If
the crystals remain tiny enough, they will travel through the urinary tract and pass out of the body in
the urine without being noticed.

Kidney stones may contain various combinations of chemicals. The most

common type of stone contains calcium in combination with either
oxalate or phosphate. These chemicals are part of a person's normal diet
and make up important parts of the body, such as bones and muscles.

A less common type of stone is caused by infection in the urinary tract.

This type of stone is called a struvite or infection stone. Much less
common are the uric acid stone and the rare cystine stone.

Urolithiasis is the medical term used to describe stones occurring in the

urinary tract. Other frequently used terms are urinary tract stone disease
and nephrolithiasis. Doctors also use terms that describe the location of
the stone in the urinary tract. For example, a ureteral stone (or

Kidney stones in kidney,

ureter, and bladder.
ureterolithiasis) is a kidney stone found in the ureter. To keep things simple, however, the term
"kidney stones" is used throughout this fact sheet.

Gallstones and kidney stones are not related. They form in different areas of the body. If you have a
gallstone, you are not necessarily more likely to develop kidney stones.