Computers and Morphology
Irwin M. Braverman · Archives of Dermatology · 1988
Computers level of society. In the laboratory, virtually all sophisticated instruments have been coupled with computers to acquire, to display, and to analyze data with speed and accuracy. For those interested in correlating structure with function, the computer affords the opportunity to visualize tissues and their cellular and subcellular components in three dimensions (3-D) and to calculate their two-dimensional (2-D) and 3-D parameters.1Three-dimensional computer reconstruction of tissues from serial sections represents a major advance in research methodology for the morphologist. The reconstructed tissues can be represented either as wire frame models2or as solid objects3depending on the software and hardware available to the investigator. The 3-D computer reconstruction represents the epitome of model making because the models can be dissected and put back together at will without their being damaged or destroyed as may occur with models constructed of plasticene, paper, or plastic. In addition,