Length Estimation Using Stereological Methods

Abstract

The rapid rise of modern stereological methods in the last 40 years has led to the introduction of new methods for different purposes, and these have become the standards sought in morphometric studies. Stereological methods make it possible to examine biological tissues with less effort and fewer samples in order to obtain accurate results at low cost. Numerical morphological values such as volume, surface area, number, and length related to structures obtained from biological materials can yield a better understanding of the investigated structure. In this context, the length of linear objects has previously been estimated using a variety of methods. Scientific advances and improvements in technology have since led to several of these methods being replaced by automated analytic approaches. Measuring the length of linear items is of critical importance in biological research. The total length of many biological tissues, such as neural dendrites, can be estimated using stereological estimation techniques. This chapter discusses methods for estimating the length density and total length of linear particles in thick tissue sections. © 2024 Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.