kidney stone
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A hard, crystalline mineral deposit that forms inside the kidney. It is a type of urinary calculus, often composed of calcium oxalate or other substances, and can cause severe pain when it passes through the urinary tract.
Usage
The term "kidney stone" is used to describe the physical object itself, the medical condition of having such stones, or the associated pain. - It is typically used in medical and general health contexts. - It is a countable noun (e.g., a kidney stone, kidney stones).
Examples
- The patient was admitted to the hospital with excruciating pain from a kidney stone.
- Drinking plenty of water can help prevent the formation of kidney stones.
- The scan revealed a small kidney stone that might pass naturally.
Advanced Usage
- "To pass a kidney stone": This is the common phrase for the process of the stone moving from the kidney, through the ureter, and out of the body via urine. It is often described as a painful experience.
- He was hoping to pass the kidney stone without needing surgery.
Variants and Related Words
- Renal calculus: The formal medical term for a kidney stone. "Renal" pertains to the kidney, and "calculus" means a stone.
- Nephrolithiasis: The medical term for the condition of having kidney stones.
- Stone: Often used informally on its own to mean a kidney stone (e.g., ).
Synonyms
- Renal calculus (formal)
- Urinary calculus (broader term, as stones can also form in the bladder)
- Nephrolith (medical term)
Related Phrases
- Kidney stone disease: Refers to the recurrent condition of forming stones.
- Kidney stone pain: Specifically refers to the severe discomfort, often called renal colic, caused by a stone.
- Kidney stone removal: Refers to medical procedures like lithotripsy or surgery to eliminate a stone.
Noun
- a calculus formed in the kidney