title: Crystallographic and chemical analysis of human bone apatite (Crista Iliaca).
abstract: Crystallographic (X-ray diffraction) and chemical (X-ray fluorescence and combustion analysis) investigations on bone microsamples (human iliac crest of 111 individuals aged 0-90 years) reveal that certain crystallographic and chemical parameters (lattice parameters, crystallinity, chemical compounds, biomineralic fraction...) are closely related to aging and type of tissue (corticalis and spongiosa). In juvenile bone [0-25y], the biomineralic fraction rises significantly, as does crystallinity and area of apatite (002)-reflection indicating a growth of crystal size. The second main age interval [25-50y] does not display statistically relevant variations with age. The third main age group [50-90y] is characterized by large chemical variations, probably due to overlapping effects of age and declining health.
authors.affiliation: Geochemical Laboratory, Basel University, Switzerland.
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Handschin
authors.forename: W B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Stern
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001031:Apatites / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003461:Crystallography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007085:Ilium / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission
chemical_list: D001031:Apatites