Light scattering

Abstract

Light scattering in biological tissues originates from the tissue inhomogeneities such as cellular organelles, extracellular matrix, blood vessels, etc. This often translates into unique angular, polarization, and spectroscopic features of scattered light emerging from tissue, and therefore information about tissue macroscopic and microscopic structure can be obtained from the characteristics of scattered light. Recognition of this fact has led to a long history of the studies of light scattering by biological structures such as cells and connective tissues.