Segments analyses

Vessel reconstruction and analysis is available with the Neurolucida 360 Ultra package only. Click here for more information.

A segment is defined as any portion of a branched structure with endings that are either nodes or terminations with no intermediate nodes.

Segment details

  • Segment length: Total length of the path used to trace the segment.

  • Average diameter: Length-weighted mean. The segment is modeled as a series of frusta. The length of each frustum is used in the calculations to provide a correct average diameter over the length of the segment as it tapers.

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

    • The smallest value is 1; this represents a straight segment.

    • 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.

Segment points

Quantitative data about segment points are reported.

Segment Angle

Quantitative data about segment angles are reported.

Contiguous segments

  • Length: Total length of the paths used to trace the contiguous segments.

  • Average diameter: Length-weighted mean for all segments. Segments are modeled as a series of frusta. The length of each frustum is used in the calculations to provide a correct average diameter over the length of a segment as it tapers.

Binned segments

Segments are grouped in bins according to their average diameters.

Segment details by diameter: The maximum diameter for each bin is incremented by this value.

For example, if you enter 5 μm, segments will be analyzed as follows:

  • 0 < diameter ≤ 5

  • 5 < diameter ≤10

  • 10 < diameter ≤ 15, etc.

For each segment, the following information is reported:

  • Length: Total length of the paths used to trace the segments.

  • Surface area/volume: Computed by modeling the pieces of the segments as frusta (i.e., truncated right circular cones).

  • Average diameter: Length-weighted mean for all segments. Segments are modeled as a series of frusta. The length of each frustum is used in the calculations to provide a correct average diameter over the length of a segment as it tapers.

  • Segment count: Number of segments per bin