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Which calcium compound is the main inorganic material in bones and teeth?

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A labeled diagram of the periodic table entry for calcium, showing its atomic number 20, symbol Ca, atomic weight 40.078, electron configuration, and classification as an alkaline-earth metal. Icons indicate calcium is a solid with a face-centered cubic crystal structure and strongly basic oxides at room temperature. — calcium The chemical element calcium is the most abundant metallic element in the human body.

The main inorganic material in bones and teeth is a calcium compound known as hydroxyapatite.

This mineral, which is a form of calcium phosphate, is deposited into the collagen matrix of bone during the process of bone mineralization. The presence of these hydroxyapatite crystals is what provides bones and teeth with their characteristic hardness, strength, and rigidity. Additionally, because bones store a significant portion of the body's calcium, they serve as a vital reserve that can be drawn upon to maintain mineral homeostasis throughout the body.123