Urology Question

[SMW83]

Ive been looking over and over and over for this: how big in diameter are the kidney ureters? and how big does a kidney stone hafta be in order for it to cause extreme pain in a 25 yr old adult male?

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[ProZackMI]

Ive been looking over and over and over for this: how big in diameter are the kidney ureters? and how big does a kidney stone hafta be in order for it to cause extreme pain in a 25 yr old adult male?

I seem to recall from med school that the average diameter of an adult ureter is about 3 mm. There are different types of stones of varying sizes, but each stone, despite the size, can cause extreme pain. Ironically, it's usually the smaller stones that cause the most pain since they are mobile and move around and/or out. Larger stones usually don't move around as much and don't cause as much intense pain, but they do cause more of a "dull ache".

If this 25-year-old male has stones, with that much pain, he could have a stenosis of the ureto-pelvic-junction (UPJ), which may have caused the stones, or he could have a genetic predisposition to stones. Either way, he should be seen by a urologist and see about getting the stone(s) removed. Smaller ones usually pass through the penis without problems, but larger ones that are mobile, but too big to pass, can be extremely painful!!!!!!!

 

[priapoconstante]

the average diameter of the ureter is 3-5 mm, and the lumen only opens when urine comes through, otherwise is collapsed. It is said that stones up to 5 mm may pass all the way. However, there are 3 difficult points to pass: UPJ, UVJ and the point where the ureter crosses the iliac vessels.
By the way, not only UPJ stenosis or genetic predisposition may cause stones. A normal person without any of these may pass a stone, and never again form another one.