What are kidney stones medically referred to as?

Kidney stones are medically referred to as renal calculi. This term is derived from "renal," meaning related to the kidneys, and "calculi," which means stones. Renal calculi can form from various substances in the urine, often including calcium, oxalate, and phosphorus. The use of "renal calculi" in clinical practice emphasizes the condition's relation to the kidneys specifically.

In contrast, nephroliths also refer to kidney stones, but this term is less frequently used in clinical settings. Ureteroliths indicate stones located in the ureters, which are the tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder, while cystoliths refer to stones in the bladder. Therefore, “renal calculi” is the most appropriate and widely recognized term for kidney stones, particularly when discussing the condition as it pertains to their formation or treatment.