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What causes kidney stones? - Arash Shadman

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The biggest kidney stone on record weighed more than a kilogram and was 17 centimeters in diameter. The patient didn’t actually swallow a stone the size of a coconut; kidney stones form inside the body. So how do they grow in the first place? And why are they so painful to get out? Arash Shadman shares the science behind kidney stones.


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About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Arash Shadman
  • Director Biljana Labović
  • Script Editor Eleanor Nelsen
  • Animator Barbara Huet
  • Animation Artist Barbara Huet
  • Composer Cem Misirlioglu
  • Sound Designer Cem Misirlioglu
  • Associate Producer Jessica Ruby
  • Content Producer Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
  • Narrator Addison Anderson
Additional Resources for you to Explore
Often, scientific papers will help give even more insight into a topic covered in a lesson. These three papers will provide background on the topic: Effect of vitamin D repletion on urinary calcium excretion among kidney stone formers, Vitamin D and kidney stone disease, and Bone disease in primary hypercalciuria.

Interested in learning more about the kidneys and their functions? How do your kidneys work? by Emma Bryce will teach you all about this vital organ in the human body. Printing a human kidney by Anthony Atala is another great resource describing recent medical advances regarding kidneys.

Here is a link to another video on kidney stones: Everything You Need To Know About Kidney Stones.

Can Roller Coasters Help You Pass Kidney Stones? is a quick video that discusses an interesting method of ridding one’s body of kidney these painful “stones.”

Finally, visit the Mayo Clinic site for more information on causes, types, and symptoms of kidney stones.

Customize this lesson

Create and share a new lesson based on this one.

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Arash Shadman
  • Director Biljana Labović
  • Script Editor Eleanor Nelsen
  • Animator Barbara Huet
  • Animation Artist Barbara Huet
  • Composer Cem Misirlioglu
  • Sound Designer Cem Misirlioglu
  • Associate Producer Jessica Ruby
  • Content Producer Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
  • Narrator Addison Anderson

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