Kidney stones are formed of solid crystals of minerals dissolved in urine found inside kidneys or ureter. They may vary in size from as small as a grain to as big as a golf ball.

Answered by pooja gupte , an ibibo Specialist, at 11:01 PM on October 29, 2007

Kidney stones are hard, stone-like masses that can form in one or both kidneys.Kidney stones are small, solid masses that form when salts or minerals normally found in urine become solid crystals (crystallise) inside the kidney. In most cases, the crystals are too tiny to be noticed, and pass harmlessly out of your body. However, they can build up inside your kidney and form much larger stones. If a stone becomes large enough, it may begin to move out of your kidney and progress through the ureters - the tubes that carry urine from the kidney to your bladder. If it gets stuck in the ureter, this can cause an infection which can lead to permanent kidney damage. Depending on where they are located, kidney stones are also known as renal calculi, urinary calculi, urinary tract stone disease, nephrolithiasis, urolithiasis and ureterolithiasis.Different kinds of kidney stones form from different salts in the urine.Calcium stones are more common in people who have excess levels of vitamin D or who have an overactive parathyroid gland.Uric acid stones,infection stones,and cystine stones are some types of kidney stones.

Answered by sanya , an ibibo Master, at 7:42 PM on October 26, 2007

A kidney stone is a hard mass developed from crystals that separate from the urine within the urinary tract. Normally, urine contains chemicals that prevent or inhibit 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. Another type of stone, uric acid stones, are a bit less common, and cystine stones are rare. 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 ureterolithiasis—is a kidney stone found in the ureter. To keep things simple, the general term kidney stones is used throughout this fact sheet. Gallstones and kidney stones are not related. They form in different areas of the body. Someone with a gallstone is not necessarily more likely to develop kidney stones.

Answered by smile , an ibibo Citizen, at 6:26 PM on October 24, 2007

Kidney stones are solid accumulations of material that form in the tubal system of the kidney. Kidney stones cause problems when they block the flow of urine through or out of the kidney. When the stones move along the ureter, kidney stones is Nephrolithiasis or Renal Calculi. A kidney stone is a solid lump (from as small as a grain of sand to as large as the size a golf ball) made up of crystals that separate from urine and build up on the inner surfaces of the kidney. A remarkable color photograph of a kidney stone over an inch long shown still inside a bisected kidney is available from a medical center in England. There appears to be an increase in the number of cases of kidney stones in recent years. About 7 to 21 people out of every 10,000 (or less than two tenths of one percent) of the population will have a kidney stone attack each year. In 1985 there were 1 million cases of kidney stones in the United States. These account for about 7 to 10 of every 1000 hospital admissions (or nearly one percent). Four out of five kidney stone cases (80 percent) are among men; only 20 percent are women. And more causaisans have kidney stones than Afro-Americans.

Answered by Pammu , an ibibo Specialist, at 3:34 PM on October 24, 2007

Kidney stones are small, solid masses that form when salts or minerals normally found in urine become solid crystals (crystallise) inside the kidney. Kidney stones are hard, stone-like masses that can form in one or both kidneys.

Answered by Meera , an ibibo Master, at 11:17 PM on October 23, 2007

Kidney stones or Renal calculi, are solid concretions (crystal aggregations) of dissolved minerals in urine. Calculi typically form inside the kidneys or ureters. The terms nephrolithiasis and urolithiasis refer to the presence of calculi in the kidneys and urinary tract respectively. Renal calculi can vary in size from as small as grains of sand to as large as grapefruit. Kidney stones typically leave the body by passage in the urine stream and many stones are formed and passed without causing symptoms. If stones grow to sufficient size before passage, on the order of at least 2-3 millimeters, they can cause obstruction of the ureter. The resulting spasm of muscle, trying to move the stone, can cause severe episodic pain, most commonly felt in the flank, lower abdomen and groin regions.

Answered by cuteguy , an ibibo Master, at 9:05 PM on October 23, 2007

Kidney stones, or Renal calculi, are solid concretions (crystal aggregations) of dissolved minerals in urine; calculi typically form inside the kidneys or ureters. The terms nephrolithiasis and urolithiasis refer to the presence of calculi in the kidneys and urinary tract, respectively. Renal calculi can vary in size from as small as grains of sand to as large as grapefruit. Kidney stones typically leave the body by passage in the urine stream, and many stones are formed and passed without causing symptoms. If stones grow to sufficient size before passage — on the order of at least 2-3 millimeters — they can cause obstruction of the ureter. The resulting spasm of muscle, trying to move the stone, can cause severe episodic pain, most commonly felt in the flank, lower abdomen and groin (a condition called renal colic). Renal colic can be associated with nausea and vomiting due to the embyrological association of the kidneys and the intestinal tract. Hematuria is commonly present due to damage to the wall of the urethra as well as dysuria (when passing stones).

Answered by Prasanna , an ibibo Citizen, at 8:57 PM on October 23, 2007