Premium
Computer‐assisted morphometry: Point, intersection, and profile counting and three‐dimensional reconstruction
Author(s) -
Hyde Dallas M.,
Magliano David J.,
Reus Edward,
Tyler Nancy K.,
Nichols Steve,
Tyler Walter S.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
microscopy research and technique
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1097-0029
pISSN - 1059-910X
DOI - 10.1002/jemt.1070210403
Subject(s) - calipers , intersection (aeronautics) , point (geometry) , computer science , population , extrapolation , image processing , dimension (graph theory) , digital image , subtraction , mathematics , artificial intelligence , computer vision , image (mathematics) , geometry , statistics , arithmetic , cartography , demography , sociology , geography , pure mathematics
The use of computers in morphometry can involve (1) automated image analysis, semiautomated image analysis and point, intersection, intercept and profile counts of two‐dimensional images on tissue sections with mathematical extrapolation to the third dimension, (2) direct measurement of volumes, surfaces, lengths, and curvature using x,y,z coordinates of serial sectioned images, or (3) stereologic techniques and serial sections which is a combination of 1 and 2 above. Automated and semiautomated image analysis are generally restricted to specimens that are characterized by differential contrast such as interalveolar septa in the lung or histochemically stained mucous granules in pulmonary epithelium. Point, intersection, and profile counts using hand‐held, notebook PCs, portable PCs, or standard PCs and MS‐DOS—based application programs are extremely efficient, precise, affordable, and convenient methods of quantitating average values of a population. When morphometric measurements of individual structures are required, computer‐assisted three‐dimensional reconstruction using x,y,z coordinates of the surface outline from serial sections is a tedious yet precise method. We describe a computer program that efficiently estimates mean caliper diameter, volume, and surface area with less than five percent error with five sections per structure. We also describe a program that does digital image subtraction on serial sections, superimposes digitally generated test systems on biological images, and accumulates point, intersection, and profile counts using a Macintosh II series computer. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.