The formation of stones in the kidneys or urinary tract is a fairly common disorder. The stones are formed from the chemicals usually found in the urine such as uric acid, phosphorous, calcium and oxalic acid. They may vary in consistency from grit, sand and gravel-like obstructions to the size of bird’s eggs.
Stones may form and grow because the concentration of a particular substance in the urine exceeds its solubility. This disorder occurs more frequently in middle age, with men being affected more often than women.
The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs, lying below the waist on either side of the spinal coloumn on the back wall of the abdomen. They are soft and reddish brown in colour. They are the filtering plant for purifying the blood, removing water and salts from it which are passed into the bladder as urine.
The formation of stones in the kidneys is the result of defects in the general metabolism. They usually occur when the urine becomes highly concentrated due to heavy perspiration or insufficient intake of fluids.