A kidney stone is a hard mass that is formed from crystals that separate from the urine and accumulate on the inner surfaces of the kidney. In healthy persons, the urine contains chemicals that inhibit crystal formation. Kidney stones form when crystal inhibition is impaired.
Kidney stones may contain various combinations of chemicals. The most common type of stone contains calcium in combination with either oxalate or phosphate. Other types of stones include struvite or infection stones, uric acid stones, and cystine stones. Kidney stones may be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball. They may be smooth or jagged and are usually yellow or brown in color.
Urolithiasis is a medical term used to describe stones occurring in the urinary tract. Other frequently used terms are urinary tract stone disease and nephrolithiasis.
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