04/05/2023
Most kidney stones are invisible to the naked eye. However, by combining these tiny particles together, over time, kidney stones will grow larger and cause painful symptoms, typically severe renal colic. There are five main chemical constituents of kidney stones: calcium oxalate, calcium phosphate, struvite, uric acid, and cysteine. Among them, kidney stones with a chemical composition of calcium oxalate are the most common.
The formation of kidney stones is based on a high concentration of crystals. For example, calcium oxalate crystals are filtered through the kidneys and into the urine. Here, they quickly bond together and form crystals. There are two basic types of crystals:
A homogeneous type is a type of crystal consisting of molecules surrounding a nucleus of the same structure.
A heterogeneous type is a crystal consisting of molecules surrounding a nucleus with a different structure, such as a cell fragment.
Kidney stones are formed when the amount of urine is too little or the concentration of the above minerals in the urine is high, deposited in the kidneys, over time, forming stones. These crystals are produced through the filtration of blood in the renal tubules that form urine. They are usually deposited in the renal papilla because this is where the crystals will undergo the bonding phase. Over time, the crystal will grow larger and larger, forming a stone and being retained by the kidney and continuing to grow.
