Kidney stones. Coloured X-ray of the abdomen of a 70 year old with stones (red) in the left kidney. Kidney stones are formed when mineral salts,most often involving calcium,accumulate on the inner surfaces of the kidney. As they grow they may block the flow of urine out of the kidney,causing extreme pain. There are many different causes,including dehydration,infection,and metabolic disorders. Most stones are small enough to be passed in the urine,but larger stones need to be treated. The stones may be removed by surgery or non-invasive means. These include extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy,which focuses shock waves on the stones,causing them to shatter | |
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Crédit: | Science Photo Library / Zephyr |
Taille de l’image : | 3260 px × 3968 px |
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