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nephrolith

nephrolith

9.5
A hard stone that forms in the kidney
  • noun
  • /ˈnɛfroʊlɪθ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : nefrólito
  • The patient was diagnosed with a nephrolith after experiencing severe flank pain.

Examples

  • Surgical removal of a nephrolith may be necessary if it causes obstruction.

  • A nephrolith can cause severe pain.

  • Analysis of the nephrolith helped the doctors determine the underlying cause of stone formation.

  • The doctor diagnosed her with a nephrolith.

  • The patient was diagnosed with a nephrolith after experiencing severe flank pain.

  • Surgical removal of a nephrolith may be necessary if it causes obstruction.

  • Analysis of the nephrolith helped the doctors determine the underlying cause of stone formation.

Synonyms

kidney stone
vsnephrolith
18 3.7

A hard mass that forms in the kidney and often causes pain when you pee

is a technical medical word rather than a common everyday name
renal calculus
vsnephrolith
  • Specialized
6.8

A hard stone that forms in the kidney can block the flow of urine

uses an alternative medical-form name for the same thing
urinary calculus
vsnephrolith
  • Specialized
7.2

A hard stone that forms in the kidney and can block urine

refers only to formation inside the organ that filters blood
urolith
vsnephrolith
  • Specialized
9.9

A hard stone that forms in the bladder or tubes that carry urine

focuses specifically on formation inside the organ that filters blood

Surface Forms

nephrolith singular
nephroliths plural

Morphology

nephrolith = kidney + stone (opaque) = nephro + lith

Although the meanings correspond to 'kidney' + 'stone', the actual form uses Greek medical combining forms that are technical and not recognizable to average learners.

Etymology

Nephrolith is built from Greek parts: nephro- meaning 'kidney' and -lith meaning 'stone'. So a nephrolith is literally a 'kidney stone', which is why the word refers to a stone formed in the kidney.