title: Scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analyses of human salivary stones.
abstract: Ten salivary stones in the human submandibular gland were investigated by scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and X-ray diffraction analyses. The stones usually showed a lamellar pattern. SEM observations revealed cubical, plate-like, granular, small and large granules, polyhedral or globular structures in these stones. By X-ray powder diffraction analysis, the main constituents of salivary stones were found to be apatite and whitlockite. SEM-EDS analyses showed that Ca and P were the major elements, frequently accompanied by Mg and S, and less frequently by Na, Al, Si, Cl, K, Fe, Cu and Zn. Ca/P molar ratios ranged from 1.00 to 2.00 with the average of 1.53, showing two maxima of about 1.50 and 1.60. The Ca/P molar ratio of about 1.50 corresponded to the value of whitlockite. The Ca/P molar ratio of 1.60 corresponded approximately to the value of apatite.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Nihon University School of Dentistry, Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mishima
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakae
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008274:Magnesium / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis; D015494:Salivary Gland Calculi / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013057:Spectrum Analysis / Q000379:methods; D013455:Sulfur / Q000032:analysis; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D010758:Phosphorus; D013455:Sulfur; D008274:Magnesium; D002118:Calcium