Skip to main content
hydroxyapatite

hydroxyapatite

1 8.6
A mineral that forms the main part of bone and tooth enamel and helps bone repair and implants
  • noun
  • /haɪˌdrɒksɪˈæpətaɪt/
  • Specialized
: hidroxiapatita
  • The body needs hydroxyapatite to maintain healthy bones and teeth.
  • hydroxyapatite in bone
  • calcium hydroxyapatite
  • hydroxyapatite crystals

Examples

  • In another study, morphologic and structural integration of hydroxyapatite in trabecular bone was aided by the application of PEMFs (Fini et al., 2002).

    Academic text (2003)
  • Bone consists of hydroxyapatite in collagen.

    Academic text (1999)
  • If you take hydroxyapatite and you put it under stress, it will strengthen itself in the direction of the stress.

  • Carboxylated osteocalcin binds to the hydroxyapatite.

    Blog text (6)
  • Hughes also found that other materials, such as hydroxyapatite and porous polyethylene, provide similar results in low-risk ears.

    Academic text (2005)
  • In addition, hydroxyapatite has been associated with a high rate of complications when used for reconstruction of full thickness calvarial defects (8).

    Academic text (2015)
  • The provisional callus (Schoen, 2000) eventually becomes more solid as fibrocartilage becomes mineralized by the deposition of hydroxyapatite.

    Academic text (2003)
  • Studies have failed to confirm osteocalcin as a functional contributor to the initial deposition of mineral (18); however, it does affect the growth and maturation of the hydroxyapatite crystals.

    Blog text (6)
  • Puppa et al. (20) described a case involving a patient with a large temporoparietal osteoma who underwent immediate cranioplasty with a prefabricated hydroxyapatite implant.

    Academic text (2015)
  • In many dental products, hydroxyapatite is added to enhance the remineralization of enamel.

Surface Forms

Morphology

hydroxyapatite = apatite (opaque) = hydroxy + apatite

This is a specialized chemical/mineral term: the prefix 'hydroxy-' and the base 'apatite' are technical, so the overall meaning is not derivable by an average B1 learner.

Etymology

Hydroxyapatite breaks into hydroxy- and apatite: hydroxy- comes from a Greek word for 'water', and apatite comes from a Greek word meaning 'deceive' because these minerals often look like other stones. So hydroxyapatite is the 'water' form of apatite, which helps explain why it is the main mineral in bone and tooth enamel.