Stereology of single objects

Systematic stacks of Cavalieri type, spatial grids, vertical sections and projections, etc., are recent sampling tools for the stereology of single objects, namely of isolated objects that can be orientated and scanned at will in a prescribed way. The increasing use of modern noninvasive scanning devices is facing potential users with the challenge of encompassing the necessary knowledge to implement 'good' stereology. The present paper presents a coherent set of recent stereological methods for single objects in a historical perspective, emphasizing the fact that all relevant techniques - old and new - emanate from a common, relatively small set of basic principles.