Observation of the Occification of the Yellow Ligament by Scanning Electron Microscopy

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Etiology of ossification or calcification of spinal ligaments is not clear. This is to report scanning electron microscopic observation of the ossification of the spinal ligaments, especially on the ligamenta flava.On the surface of the non-ossification there are large collagen fibers, measured 1.8-5μ in diameter and little fibrillar connection is seen between them.In the peripheral part of the ossification there was found an irregular network composed of the fine microfibrils which are 400Å-900Å in diameter. Between or on the surface of the microfibrils, a number of granular particles measured 1μ-5μ in diameter were seen.Crystal deposition in the ligamenta flava was observed at the accumulation of the layer where a clear line of demarcation was seen between the clllagen framework and crystals. The crystals were rod and granular with a length of 0.6μ-4.0μ in diameter.The crystals deposited in the tissue were examined by X-ray microdiffractmeter. The X-ray diffraction pattern of the crystal coincided well to that of CPPD (Ca2P2O7·2H2O).