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) providing an imaging system comprising a light source configured to sequentially illuminate substantially all of the tracheids of substantially all of the growth rings by directing the light source to the side of the wood sample; a camera configured to sequentially acquire images of at least part of the latewood and earlywood portions of substantially all of the growth rings; and a computer receiving signals from the camera, the computer running a software configured to determine at least one anatomical property of the sample, 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; C) sequentially capturing images of substantially all of the earlywood and latewood portions of substantially all of the growth rings in the sample, each image having a pixel resolution less than 2 μm; and D) determining at least one anatomical property of the sample, 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.