title: X-ray diffraction by collagen in the fully mineralized cortical bone of cow tibia.
abstract: X-ray diffraction patterns were recorded from fully mineralized and demineralized sections of the cortical bone from cow tibia. The results were used to obtain a measure, d, of the mean side-to-side spacing (equatorial diffraction spacing) of the molecules in the type I collagen fibrils of bone. Mineralized bone yielded a d value of 1.23 nm; for the demineralized tissue this value increased to 1.52 nm. Thus it appears that mineralization of bone compacts its collagen molecules within the fibrils.
authors.affiliation: Bioengineering Department, Forsyth Dental Center, Boston, MA 02115.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lees
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Hukins
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000737:chemistry*; D002113:Calcification, Physiologic; D002417:Cattle; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis*; D013977:Tibia; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen