[Computer-aided macroscopic morphometry of the brain--estimation of the volume and surface area of the cerebral cortex].

A computer-aided morphometric method is described for evaluating the volumes and surface areas of brain structures from cut-surface images. This method consists of representing the topographical features of the cut surface as line drawings of closed curves and computing the magnitude of three-dimensional object from measurements made on two-dimensional sections. After fixation in 15% formalin for at least two weeks, the supratentorial brain is cut coronally at intervals of d (approximately 10 mm). The thicknesses of the extreme anterior and posterior slices are measured (d',d"). All the cut surfaces are numbered (1 less than or equal to i less than or equal to n), photographed, printed at a constant magnification of about 1.5, and the anatomical locations are specified on each print. The boundary lines of the main structures are classified into several categories: the cortical line, subcortical line, ventricular line, etc. Each of the classified line is reduced to a set of simple closed curves and entered into the computer in digitized form. The perimetric lengths as well as encircled areas of the constituent figures are computed and the classified totals of the boundary length and area of brain structures are determined for individual cut surfaces. At the same time, the data are processed to be displayed on CRT as lines of different colors according to the classification. The cerebral cortical volume is estimated from the series of its cut-surface using the trapezoidal rule.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)