Biomineralization pathological

Bone, shell, and coral are not, however, the only biominerals created by living organisms. The kidney and liver of animals, for example, often synthesize biominerals in the form of pathological stones (known as calculi) of varied composition (mostly of calcium oxalate, calcium phosphate, or... 

There is, however, also a pathological aspect of biomineralization including the formation of body stones (kidney, gall-bladder), atherosclerosis, bone resorption and caries. 

In recent years an increasing of reports have been made regarding ectopic cal-cificahons (pathological biomineralization) that involve calcium phosphate [50] and lead to conditions such as urinary stones, atherosclerosis, dental calculus and calcified menisci. One reverse pathological biomineraUzation related to calcium phosphate is that of osteoporosis, which results from an excessive degradation of the calcium phosphate crystals of bone. 

---