title: Neutron diffraction studies of lumbar vertebrae.
abstract: Neutron diffraction measurements of the orientation of the apatite crystals show a significant preference of their c-axes for the vertical direction. This preference increases from bottom to top of each vertebral body and is substantially greater for the second than for the fifth lumbar vertebrae. This is in line with the predominantly vertical forces which the former withstands.
mesh_terms: D001031:Apatites / Q000032:analysis; D003461:Crystallography; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000032:analysis / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D009502:Neutrons
chemical_list: D001031:Apatites