Biostereometrics and the communication of biological form.

Biostereometrics-the spatial and spatio-temporal analysis of biological form and function based on principles geometry-is a modern approach to the measurement and analysis of biological form which recognizes that organic structures are irregular and three-dimensional (or four-dimensional, as in movement or growth). Stereometric sensors of various types are used to determine the coordinates of points distributed over the surface (internal or external). The resulting data provide a more comprehensive, parsimonious and unambiguous spatial quantification than heretofore possible using traditional lengths, breadths, and circumferences. Recent and prospective biomedical applications are described.