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Hard Hearted
20 July 2014

Hard Hearted

As calcium builds up in tissues it gradually causes them to harden or calcify. It's how our bodies build teeth and bones. When calcification happens in cardiovascular tissue, however, it reduces blood flow and eventually leads to heart failure. To better understand the problem, researchers have taken snapshots of calcified heart valves using a special microscope that can measure the density of a material as well as its surface features. Images like this one, where denser material appears orange, have revealed that spherical particles forming during soft-tissue calcification are composed of a form of calcium known as hydroxyapatite, which is structurally different to that found in bone. Such insights might help figure out how to break down the mineral deposits or even prevent them forming in the first place.

Written by Daniel Cossins

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BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

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