title: Back-scattered electron imaging of skeletal tissues.
abstract: The use of solid-state back-scattered electron (BSE) detectors in the scanning electron microscopic study of skeletal tissues has been investigated. To minimize the topographic element in the image, flat samples and a ring detector configuration with the sample at normal incidence to the beam and the detector are used. Very flat samples are prepared by diamond micromilling or diamond polishing plastic-embedded tissue. Density discrimination in the image is so good that different density phases within mineralized bone can be imaged. For unembedded spongy bone, cut surfaces can be discriminated from natural surfaces by a topographic contrast mechanism. BSE imaging also presents advantages for unembedded samples with rough topography, such as anorganic preparations of the mineralization zone in cartilage, which give rise to severe charging problems with conventional secondary electron imaging.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006132:Growth Plate / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D010011:Osteocytes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D013499:Surface Properties