Stereologic techniques begin to play an increasing role in biologic morphology, particularly there where correlation of structure and function on a quantitative basis is sought. These powerful methods have been in use for many years - partly even for many decades - in geology, mineralogy and metallurgy, while attempts to introduce them into histology have remained rather rare until a few years ago. In order to stimulate discussion among anatomists about stereo logic methods the International Society for Stereology, an interdisciplinary society, organized a Sym posium on Quantitative Methods in Morphology which took place on August 10, 1965 in the framework of the Eighth International Congress of Anatomists in Wiesbaden, Germany. The papers presented at this symposium are published in this volume in slightly extended form. Some of the papers of this volume are of rather specialized nature and presume a basic knowledge of stereology. The first chapter on general stereological principles has therefore been considerably extended and short introductory review paragraphs have been added to a few subsequent chapters to help those who are not yet familiar with this new field in understanding the more specialized original articles. Long discussion periods formed an essential part of the symposium. However, they were conducted very informally and hence it would not have been profitable to reproduce them in extenso, particularly since the major results of discussion have been incorporated by the authors into the expanded manuscripts presented here.

Table of Contents / Inhaltsverzeichnis

1. Introduction / Einleitung
to stereology and morphometry
I. Fundamental problems of quantitative morphology
II. Stereology and morphometry
III. General stereologic principles
IV. Terminology and symbolism
2. Derivation of size distribution of structures from analysis of sections / Bestimmung von Größenverteilungen von Strukturen aus Schnitten
I. Kugelgrößenverteilung und Verteilung der Schnittkreise; ihre wechselseitigen Beziehungen und Verfahren zur Bestimmung der einen aus der anderen
II. Analysis of size distribution of fat cells in adipose tissue at different ages
3. Counting structures on tissue sections / Strukturzählung auf Gewebeschnitten
I. Introduction to counting principles
II. Probleme und Methoden der Strukturzählung im Schnittpräparat
III. Zur Methodik der Zellzählung an subcorticalen Strukturen des menschlichen Gehirns
4. Measuring structures in space with random probes (planes, lines, points) / Messen von räumlichen Strukturen mittels zufälliger Sonden (Ebenen, Linien, Punkten)
I. Introduction to stereologic principles
II. Fehlerbetrachtungen zur Volumenbestimmung aus der Integration ebener Schnitte
III. Stereology of the human renal glomerulus
IV. Morphometrische Untersuchungen an Zellen
V. Morphometrische Analyse der Umbauvorgänge in der Kompakta des Knochens
5. Instrumentation
Apparative Hilfsmittel der Stereologie
6. Use of stereologic information in correlation of structure and function / Verwendung stereologischer Information in der Korrelation von Struktur und Funktion
Morphometry and lung models
Author Index.