1. A method for determining anatomical properties of a tree having a plurality of growth rings spaced from each other in a radial direction, the steps comprising: A) providing a wood sample of the tree, the wood sample including at least one growth ring comprising a plurality of tracheids, each tracheid having a tracheid wall, the growth ring defining an earlywood portion and a latewood portion; B) directing a light source to the wood sample so as to illuminate the tracheids of a selected growth ring among the at least one growth ring; C) capturing an image of at least one of the earlywood and latewood portions of the selected growth ring, the image having a pixel resolution less than 2 μm; and D) determining at least one anatomical property of the sample based on the image, the anatomical property being selected from the group consisting of sample density, one or more tracheid wall thicknesses, and one or more tracheid exterior dimensions.