Stones

These are salts formations in hollow organs or excretory ducts of glands. They form when salts deposited in the secretions of these organs. Stones most commonly form in the gallbladder and ducts, kidney calyces, urinary bladder, ureters, salivary gland ducts. The color, consistency, and surface of the stone depend on its composition. Uric stones are yellow; phosphatic, calcareous – white; cholesterol – transparent, shiny; pigment (bilirubin) – green, etc. Uric, phosphatic stones are smooth, oxalate – rough, etc. Stones come in various shapes. Initially, many of them are round, larger ones adapt to the shape of the cavity. Stones cause lithiasis (gallstones, urinary bladder and tract stones, etc.).

Source | Glossary of Most Commonly Used Biomedical Terms and Concepts | Lithuanian University of Health Sciences | Academician Professor Antanas Praškevičius, Professor Laima Ivanovienė