Urinary stone disease is one of the most actively progressing diseases, which are associated with metabolic disturbances and are influenced by the genetic, environmental factors and lifestyle \. In the article the current views on initiation factors of stone formation and theories of stone formation are reviewed. The factors that play an important role in the activation and inhibition of nucleation and aggregation of stone-forming substances are discussed. All theories of stone formation are based on the common condition, which is the supersaturation of stone-forming elements. The microelements involved in the stone formation, the most common metabolic disorders and their role in stone formation are discussed.

Keywords: stone-forming substances, theories of stone formation, urinary stone disease, hypercalciuria, metabolic disturbances, hypercalcemia, urolithiasis, risk factors