Renal calculi is the medical term for which condition?

• A. Nephritis
• B. Cystitis
• C. Renal calculi
• D. Hydronephrosis

Answer: (C)

Understanding medical terms: renal refers to the kidney and calculus means a stone. So renal calculi means kidney stones. This term is used to describe the condition where mineral crystals form a stone in the kidney, which can travel down the urinary tract and cause pain, blood in the urine, and other symptoms. It’s also known as nephrolithiasis in many contexts.

This differs from nephritis, which is inflammation of the kidney tissue; cystitis, inflammation of the bladder; and hydronephrosis, swelling of a kidney due to urine buildup from an obstruction. So the condition described by renal calculi is the presence of kidney stones.