Inhibition, diminution and retardation, and the growth of calcium oxalate crystals

One quarter of all urine stones is composed of calcium oxalate. Growth of these stones should be possible when urine is supersaturated with respect to calcium and oxalate. Urine has an inhibiting effect on calcium oxalate crystal growth. This inhibition can be effected either by diminution of supersaturation — for instance by altering ion activity or the solubility product — or ba retarding the crystal growth rate that is typical for a given supersaturation through binding of inhibitors to the crystal surface. The solubility product could be altered by an effect of inhibitors on the growing crystal phase.