Parametric 3D model of sperm cell surface applied in confocal microscopy

Abstract

Confocal microscopy combined with 3D graphics enable to study spatial characteristics of biological objects on microscopic level. Human sperm cells have a typical shape with marked asymmetry in its frontal-back part. 2D analysis with optical microscope gives mainly information about horizontal plane of the cell. Presented parametrical model provides important geometrical parameters describing 3D shape of the cell surface using 3D reconstruction of horizontal cross-sections acquired by a confocal microscope.