Dark-field transmission electron microscopy of cortical bone reveals details of extrafibrillar crystals

In a previous study we showed that most of the mineral in bone is present in the form of “mineral structures”, 5-6 nm-thick, elongated plates which surround and are oriented parallel to collagen fibrils. Using dark-field transmission electron microscopy, we viewed mineral structures in ion-milled sections of cortical human bone cut parallel to the collagen fibrils. Within the mineral structures we observe single crystals of apatite averaging 5.8 ± 2.7 nm in width and 28 ± 19 nm in length, their long axes oriented parallel to the fibril axis. Some appear to be composite, co-aligned crystals as thin as 2 nm. From their similarity to TEM images of crystals liberated from deproteinated bone we infer that we are viewing sections through platy crystals of apatite that are assembled together to form the mineral structures.