A STUDY OF TENDONS, BONES, AND OTHER FORMS OF CONNECTIVE TISSUE BY MEANS OF X-RAY DIFFRACTION PATTERNS

Abstract

X-ray diagrams of bones and teeth, by the monochromatic pinhole method, show that inorganic crystals of apatite are present in bone oriented so as to give fiber structure in longitudinal section. There are also unoriented crystals present which are attributed to organic crystals of collagen, or ossein. Dentine contained unoriented inorganic crystals of apatite and also, probably, unoriented crystals of collagen. Tooth enamel contained only inorganic crystals of apatite, oriented with respect to the prisms so as to give a fiber pattern. The possible importance of crystalline collagen in bones, as one of the physico-chemical factors involved in the process of bone formation, is discussed.