Computer-assisted measurement of the thickness of biological structures.

A digitizer-microcomputer method has been developed for the determination of the average thickness or width of biological structures of a relatively long, thin nature. Test models were used to confirm the accuracy and reproducibility of the method. Although the method does not eliminate all subjectivity (e.g., estimation of pericyte areas in capillaries) or human error (i.e., stability of the tracing) it does not involve the tedium and subjectivity of repeated individual measurements and estimations of ruler-type measurements. It furthermore allows for more rapid measurements than other methods currently in use. The method provides a precise, quick, reproducible, relatively non-subjective method for routine analyses. The system used is relatively inexpensive and readily available.