Renal Calculi
Renal Calculi
Kristan Michele Heil Our Lady of the Lake College
Renal Calculi Renal calculi, commonly called kidney stones, are one of the most common, painful disorders of the urinary system. The condition of having kidney stones is referred to as nephrolithiasis. These stones are usually formed inside of the kidney and can be composed of various elements collected in the human body. Some stones may pass right through the urinary system never causing a problem, while others may cause a great amount of pain by blocking the flow of urine out of the body. Various precautions can be taken in order to avoid this painful condition. Affected individuals should be aware of the many different types, causes, treatments and ways of prevention to further inhibit the formation of kidney stones.
In the human body, the two bean-shaped kidneys play a central role in filtering the blood and removing wastes and excess water from the body in the form of urine. Urine is removed from the body via the excretory system, consisting of branches in the kidneys and renal pelvis, ureters, the urinary bladder and urethra. The kidneys are located posterior to the peritoneum in the abdominal cavity. The interior kidney has a number of urine-draining branches termed the major and minor calyces, and an expanded portion called the renal pelvis, which together are known as the pelvicaliceal system (Frank, 2007). Extending inferiorly from the pelvis of each kidney is a ureter. Ureters are long, tube-like structures connecting each kidney to the urinary bladder. The urinary bladder serves as a vessel to urine collected by the kidneys. The urethra, located on the inferior surface of the bladder, serves as the exterior opening to the body to remove the urine and wastes from the bladder.
Formation of stones in the kidneys is most commonly caused by excess substances in the urine. These substances combine to form small crystals which eventually combine to form stones. Stones are most
Kristan Michele Heil Our Lady of the Lake College
Renal Calculi Renal calculi, commonly called kidney stones, are one of the most common, painful disorders of the urinary system. The condition of having kidney stones is referred to as nephrolithiasis. These stones are usually formed inside of the kidney and can be composed of various elements collected in the human body. Some stones may pass right through the urinary system never causing a problem, while others may cause a great amount of pain by blocking the flow of urine out of the body. Various precautions can be taken in order to avoid this painful condition. Affected individuals should be aware of the many different types, causes, treatments and ways of prevention to further inhibit the formation of kidney stones.
In the human body, the two bean-shaped kidneys play a central role in filtering the blood and removing wastes and excess water from the body in the form of urine. Urine is removed from the body via the excretory system, consisting of branches in the kidneys and renal pelvis, ureters, the urinary bladder and urethra. The kidneys are located posterior to the peritoneum in the abdominal cavity. The interior kidney has a number of urine-draining branches termed the major and minor calyces, and an expanded portion called the renal pelvis, which together are known as the pelvicaliceal system (Frank, 2007). Extending inferiorly from the pelvis of each kidney is a ureter. Ureters are long, tube-like structures connecting each kidney to the urinary bladder. The urinary bladder serves as a vessel to urine collected by the kidneys. The urethra, located on the inferior surface of the bladder, serves as the exterior opening to the body to remove the urine and wastes from the bladder.
Formation of stones in the kidneys is most commonly caused by excess substances in the urine. These substances combine to form small crystals which eventually combine to form stones. Stones are most
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