In recent years, microscopic measurements have
been increasingly used both in biological researches
and treatments. During the last two decades,
stereology has been considerably improved,
so that it is the first choice for obtaining threedimensional
data from two-dimensional profiles.
The modern stereology by efficient and designbased
methods permits the quantitative description
of morphology. Applications to placentas in
normal and abnormal pregnancies have proved of
great value for challenging earlier misconceptions
and interpretation of the growth, morphogenesis,
adaptation and functioning at the whole-organ
level (8).
In histological methods, we