title: The metric analysis of three-dimensional dendritic tree patterns: a methodological review.
abstract: Metric analysis methods used to study neuronal arborizations are reviewed and discussed. The analysis methods considered are those examining the spatial orientation and density of the whole dendritic field of a neuron, the metrics of dendritic segments and the bifurcation angles. General variables indicating the size of the soma and the dendritic field are indicated. In addition, the instrumentation used for providing 3-dimensional data for metric analyses and the shrinkage of Golgi-stained neurons are discussed.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology*; D002415:Cats; D003712:Dendrites; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006652:Histological Techniques; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009445:Neuroanatomy / Q000379:methods*; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats