title: Quantitation in morphology: possibilities and limits.
abstract: Methods of structural measurement (morphometry) play an increasing role in investigative pathology. Basic methods of surface and volume measurement and their use in pathology are discussed. This paper demonstrates on the example of the pulmonary gas exchange apparatus that a morphometric approach, using methods of stereology, can yield results of high significance in assessing the structural alterations underlying a gas exchange deficiency.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods*; D001344:Autopsy; D001699:Biometry / Q000379:methods*; D004285:Dogs; D006652:Histological Techniques; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011653:Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity / Q000379:methods; D012119:Respiration; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000473:pathology; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D013499:Surface Properties