Submicrometer-sized, pure calcium hydroxyapatite (HA, (Ca-10(PO4)(6)(OH)(2))) and eta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP, Ca-3(PO4)(2)) bioceramic powders, that have been synthesized via chemical precipitation techniques, were used in the preparation of aqueous slurries that contained methyl cellulose to manufacture porous (70%-95% porosity) HA or beta-TCP ceramics. The pore sizes in HA bioceramics of this study were 200-400 mu m, whereas those of beta-TCP bioceramics were 100-300 mu m. The pore morphology and total porosity of the HA and beta-TCP samples were investigated via scanning electron microscopy, water absorption, and computerized tomography.