Estimation of the Size Distribution of Closed Cell Elements from Analysis of Their Random Plane Sections

Abstract

Numerical estimates of the size distribution of spherical particles derived from the distribution of their random plane section sizes (Wicksell's problem) are well known. The present paper considers problems in which the observed particles are approximated by either three-axial or ''crushed'' ellipsoids. Based on the described numerical solutions of the problems, the size distributions of some important neuron ultrastructural elements are estimated from an electron microscopic morphometrical study. Experimental evidence supporting the ''crushed'' ellipsoid paradigm is discussed.