As all humans have supersaturated urine at times, what protects us from developing renal stones?

Urinary calculi have affected man for as long as records exist; the first documented account of urinary calculi was found amongst the remains of Egyptian mummies dating back to 4800BC.1 Calculi, or urinary stones are masses of crystals, protein, or other substances that form within and may obstruct the urinary tract. The prevalence of urinary calculi in the adult population is 3-5% with a 0.5% incidence per year. The lifetime risk of forming a stone is approximately 12%. Males are affected three times more often than females, and the age distribution is at its optimal at the ages of 20-40 years although calculi are seen in all age groups.2 Although an excess of calcium in the urine is the commonest underlying cause for upper urinary tract calculi, the pathogenesis is usually complex and multifactorial.

Pathophysiology of renal calculi:
Kidney stones develop when crystals......

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Title: As All Humans Have Supersaturated Urine At Times, What Protects Us From Developing Renal Stones?
Approximate Word Count: 2899
Approximate Pages: 12 (250 words per double-spaced page)

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