Quick Answer: A kidney stone model is a pathology teaching model that shows urinary stones, or calculi, in the kidney, typically in a sectioned kidney where stones sit in the calyces and renal pelvis. Nursing, medical and biology teachers use a kidney stone model to explain how stones form, where they get stuck and why they cause pain and blockage.
Stones in the Urinary Tract
Kidney stones form when substances in urine, most often calcium oxalate, become concentrated enough to crystallise. The crystals grow in the collecting system of the kidney, within the calyces or the renal pelvis. Other common types are uric acid and struvite, which is linked with certain urinary infections, while cystine stones are rarer. A large branching stone that fills the pelvis and calyces is called a staghorn calculus.
Stones cause most trouble when they move. The ureter has three natural narrow points where a stone is likely to lodge: where the renal pelvis joins the ureter, where the ureter crosses the pelvic brim over the iliac vessels, and where it enters the bladder wall. A trapped stone stretches the ureter, causing severe colicky pain, and can block the flow of urine so that the renal pelvis swells, a condition called hydronephrosis.
Which stone types and positions this model shows, and whether the ureter and bladder are included, is not stated in the title. The human kidney structures model shows the healthy kidney for comparison, and the human urinary system model shows the whole tract.
Specifications
| Model of | Kidney with urinary stones (calculi) |
| Topic | Urolithiasis, a pathology model |
| Stone sites usually shown | Calyces and renal pelvis |
| Related changes taught | Obstruction and dilatation of the collecting system |
| Stone types, sections and scale | Confirm at enquiry |
Teaching Uses
- Nursing and medical lessons on urolithiasis and renal colic
- Comparing a diseased kidney with a healthy kidney model in pathology teaching
- Health education on hydration and the conditions that favour stone formation
- Explaining ultrasound and X-ray findings of stones in allied health courses
Care & Handling
- Handle the kidney stone model by its base; small stones set into the section can loosen if pressed.
- Keep it with other pathology models, clearly labelled, so it is not mistaken for a normal kidney model.
- Wipe with a dry cloth and keep water away from inserted stone pieces.
Why Choose LabEquip
Nursing colleges and medical schools use pathology models like this to show what a textbook photograph cannot: where a stone sits in three dimensions. LabEquip includes it in its biology lab products and answers questions through the contact page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are kidney stones made of?
Most are calcium oxalate, sometimes mixed with calcium phosphate. Other types include uric acid, struvite, which forms with certain urinary infections, and cystine stones linked to an inherited condition.
Where do kidney stones usually get stuck?
At the three narrowest points of the ureter: the junction with the renal pelvis, the point where it crosses the pelvic brim, and where it enters the bladder.
Why do kidney stones cause such pain?
A stone moving into or stuck in the ureter stretches its wall and triggers strong waves of muscle contraction. The pain often comes in waves and spreads from the loin towards the groin.
What is hydronephrosis?
It is swelling of the renal pelvis and calyces caused by urine that cannot drain. A stone blocking the ureter is one common cause.
What is a staghorn calculus?
It is a large stone that fills the renal pelvis and extends into several calyces, giving it a branched shape like a deer’s antler. It is often a struvite stone.
Is this model suitable for school biology?
It is mainly used in nursing, medical and allied health training. In senior secondary biology it can support lessons on kidney function and health, alongside a normal kidney model.
Last Updated: September 2026
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