Bone: Nature of the Calcium Phosphate Crystals and Cellular, Structural, and Physical Chemical Mechanisms in Their Formation

Abstract

This chapter is an attempt to summarize at least some of the historical background leading to the more recent research over the past several decades. The focus here is on investigations at the molecular and nano-scales, now possible both theoretically and experimentally, which have been applied to determine the “nature” of the solid Ca–Pi mineral phase of bone and other calcified vertebrate tissues from the inception of mineralization to the changes that occur during crystal maturation (“crystal aging”) and the “normal” aging of the animal. The topics addressed below include an introduction to the basic concepts, relevant terminology and cellular events involved in bone …