"Figure" - what is it, definition of the term
The term denotes a visual element—such as a diagram, chart, or illustration—embedded in a document to convey quantitative or qualitative information, usually accompanied by a caption and cited in the text; in studies involving rodents like rats and mice, it presents data on morphology, behavior, or experimental outcomes, facilitating direct comparison and interpretation.
Detailed information
Visual representations in rodent research serve as precise tools for communicating anatomical, physiological, and experimental data. They convey spatial relationships, quantitative measurements, and comparative observations that text alone cannot express. In studies involving rats and mice, such representations are indispensable for documenting morphology, behavior, and outcomes of interventions.
Various formats appear in scientific publications. Anatomical sketches depict organ placement, skeletal structure, and tissue layers with calibrated dimensions. Photographic plates capture live specimens, histological sections, or imaging modalities such as MRI and CT scans. Graphical displays include bar charts, scatter plots, and survival curves that illustrate statistical trends across experimental groups. Flow diagrams map experimental protocols, while heat maps visualize gene‑expression patterns within specific tissues.
Standard conventions ensure clarity. Each visual element must contain a concise caption that identifies the subject, experimental condition, and key findings. Scale bars indicate dimensional references, and legends explain symbols, colors, or line styles. Axis labels on quantitative graphs require units and measurement intervals. References to the source data or software used for generation are typically included in the caption.
Common applications in rat and mouse investigations:
- Morphometric analysis of skull dimensions for taxonomic classification.
- Tracking locomotor activity with video‑based plots that quantify distance traveled, speed, and pattern of movement.
- Presenting dose‑response relationships for pharmacological agents using dose‑effect curves.
- Displaying allele frequencies across breeding colonies via pie charts or bar graphs.
- Mapping neural circuitry with schematic diagrams that label brain regions and connectivity pathways.
Adherence to these guidelines enhances reproducibility, facilitates peer review, and supports the integration of rodent data into broader biological frameworks.