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A study published in the journal Biomaterials finds that the rhythmic pulsation of cardiac muscle cells is a driving force in the initial formation of heart valves.

The heart forms as a simple U-shaped tube of tissue, comprised of three layers.

A layer of cardiac muscle cells begin to pulse even before blood vessels are formed. Beneath the muscle is a layer of "cardiac jelly," and below that is a layer of endothelial cells that will transform into valvular interstitial cells (VICs).

Where the heart valves form, endothelial cells embed themselves into cushions of cardiac jelly.

The endothelial cells transform into VICs, and these cells co-ordinate the transformation of the cardiac jelly into the two or three flaps (called "leaflets") that comprise the valve and control the flow of blood to the heart by opening and closing.

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Even before they can pump blood, baby hearts need rhythm

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