Individual Tree Segments analysis

Purpose

Provides data for individually selected tree segments. For more on segment selection see Selecting and hiding structures.

Analysis results

Tree: The identification number of the tree branch the segment belongs to.

Classification: The classification of the tree branch the segment belongs to.

Length (µm): Total length of the path used to trace the segment.

Tortuosity: Tortuosity = [Actual length of the segment] / [Distance between the endpoints of the segment]

  • The smallest possible tortuosity value is 1. This indicates a straight path.
  • Tortuosity increases as the segment assumes a more complex path to reach its destination.
  • Tortuosity allows segments of different lengths to be compared in terms of the complexity of the paths they take.

Surface area (µm²): The total surface area of the segment.

Volume (µm³): The total volume of the segment.

Terminal Type: Describes the end point of the segment that is distal to the origin, the most common being Normal and Branch:

  • Normal: Describes a terminal segment point that is the end of a branch.

  • Branch: Describes a terminal segment point that is a node (bifurcating or trifurcating).

 

Normal Ending (N) Default
High Ending (H)

Ending located at the top of the current section. Depending on the orientation of the sections, the process may continue into another section.

  • Use the Z Meter to determine the Z value of the ending.
Low Ending (L) Ending located at the bottom of the current section.
Incomplete (I) Use to label arbitrary endings, endings that disappear for unknown reasons, endings that should be audited later.
Origin Ending (O)

Indicates the directionality of the tree.

  • Use this setting if you have been tracing towards the cell body and find that your "ending" is actually the beginning of the process.

Neurolucida Explorer keeps track of directionality to apply branch orders.

Midpoint (M) Ending of a long branch that is indeterminate at the time it is placed.
Generated (G) When Neurolucida or Neurolucida 360 is unable to determine an ending type, it assigns a "Generated" ending. This can happen during editing when the ending type originally assigned is no longer valid, or a new ending is created. Examples include editing to relocate the origin ending, which leaves the original origin unassigned, or splitting a branch, which creates new endings. You may need to evaluate the generated endings and assign the appropriate ending type.
Branch (B) Describes a terminal segment point that is a node (bifurcating or trifurcating). The Branch ending type will only be seen in segment analyses.

Base Diameter (µm): Diameter at the start of the segment.

Avg diameter (µm): Length-weighted mean diameter of the segment.

Base coordinates: The (X, Y, Z) position of the start of the segment.