Ethanol and formaldehyde fixation irreversibly alter bones' organic matrix

Left: Modal analysis was performed in fresh coxal bones in the unfixed condition (1), after anatomical fixation with ethanol or formaldehyde (2) and after rinsing with isotonic sodium chloride (3). Middle: Ethanol causes an irreversible weight loss and formaldehyde causes structural changes in the organic matrix of coxal bones. Ethanol and formaldehyde related changes in fresh bone weight and modal frequencies are given. Right: In contrast to macerated coxal bones, anisotropy is irreversibly altered in fresh bones, suggested by the modal assurance criterion (MAC) values.182