Plumes generated by laser ablation of hydroxyapatite (HA) targets under diverse irradiation conditions have been analysed by means of fast intensified CCD imaging and optical emission spectroscopy. Images obtained at four different laser fluences (1, 1.5. 2.6 and 3.5 J/cm(2)) have revealed the presence of two separated emissive components in the plume for delay times up to 1 mu s after the laser pulse. The relative emission intensity between both components strongly depends on the magnitude of the fluence and so do their velocities of expansion. Spectra as recorded have shown that at low fluences, molecular species predominate over atomic ones, whereas at high fluences, atomic species are the predominant ones. Images obtained with the aid of bandpass filters have revealed that the nature of the faster emissive component in the plume is mainly atomic, whereas emission from the second one mainly arises from excited molecular radicals.