Morphological and Chemical Study of Pathological Deposits in Human Aortic and Mitral Valve Stenosis: A Biomineralogical Contribution

Figure 6

BSE-SEM analysis of circular cavities (sample Tv16 m). (a) Low magnification image of a PTS. The brightest areas represent fully mineralized zones. On the left, a massive and homogeneous deposit is visible, while in the center micrometric circular cavities are visible. (b, c) Magnified view of the small cavities indicated in panel (a); fragments of disorganized and mineralized collagen are visible within the cavities.