Tandem scanning reflected light microscopy of internal features in whole bone and tooth samples

An improved version of the tandem-scanning reflected-light microscope (Petran et al., 1968) has been studied with respect to its applicability to the study of mammalian mineralized tissues. It was found to have important advantages compared with other light microscopic methods, since it allowed microscopic structures to be seen at considerable depths within intact specimens. It has a small depth of focus and gives high contrast for features such as osteocyte lacunae and canaliculi in bone, and prism boundaries in dental enamel.