Influence of mineral content and composition on graylevels in backscattered electron images of bone

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Skedros, John G.¹; Bloebaum, Roy D.¹; Bachus, Kent N.¹; Boyce, Todd M.¹; Constantz, Brent²

Influence of mineral content and composition on graylevels in backscattered electron images of bone

J Biomed Mater Res. January 1993;27(1):57-64

©1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Affiliations

¹Bone and Joint Research Laboratorips (151F), VA Medical Center, 500 Foothill Blvd., Salt Lake City, UT 84148

²Norian Corporation, 1025 Terra Bella Ave., Mountain Vrew, CA 94043
Abstract

To determine the meaning of graylevels in backscattered electron (BSE) images of actual bone tissues, the influence of mineral content and mineral composition on BSE image graylevels was studied using chick bone tissue representing a broad age range. These tissues were analyzed for BSE image graylevels, Ca/P molar ratios, mineral composition, mineral content (v/v), ash fraction (w/w), and density (g/cm³). Linear regression analyses showed that the weighted mean graylevels (WMGLs) in BSE images were positively correlated to ash fraction (r² = 0.711), mineral content (r² = 0.720), and density (r² = 0.843). Although the Ca/P ratio increased from 1.65 in embryos to 1.80 in 2‐year olds, the compositional changes corresponding to this Ca/P molar ratio were estimated to produce a relatively minor (< 4.0%) change in BSE image graylevel. These results demonstrate that graylevels in BSE images of actual bone tissue can be attributed to mineral content and density, but only as a coincidence of their association with atomic number.
Links

DOI: 10.1002/jbm.820270108

PubMed: 8420999

WoS: A1993KC87600007
History

Received: 1991-12-09

Accepted: 1992-05-18

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