Abstract: Wood anatomy studies about the morphological characteristics, cell arrangement, tissue proportion, structure and function of various cells in secondary xylem, the wood. In the frame of wood anatomy research, carrying out quantitative wood anatomy (QWA) can realize the quantitative extraction, mining, integration and application of wood anatomical traits information. It can further be beneficial for scientifically constructing the relationships between wood anatomical traits and physiological functions of tree species, climate and environment, wood properties and processing technology. QWA can also advance the developments of other research fields, including wood science, forestry, botany, paleontology, palaeoclimatology, archaeology and phenology. Therefore, in the era of systematic science, we should find out the developmental characteristics of quantitative anatomy of wood, clarify the structural frame and integrity of wood anatomical traits, and discuss the emerging nature of quantitative wood anatomy of wood from the perspective of scientific system theory. This would enhance the multi-disciplinary integration and update the quantitative wood anatomy. Hence, in this review, we firstly introduced the important development stages of wood anatomy, and then described main methods for quantitative wood anatomy studies on basis of sample preparation, information collection and data analysis. Furthermore, new research progress on QWA over the decade was summarized from three aspects; wood anatomy and tree system evolution, wood anatomy and climate and environment change, wood anatomy and wood properties, processing and utilization. Finally, to solve the problems and shortcomings of QWA, three prospects for future development are proposed. 1) Innovate the methods for QWA, and build the high flux testing and analysis platform for QWA. This could provide a basis for the wide application of wood anatomy. 2) Improve wood information resources and build the information sharing system, enhance the reliability and sharing of QWA information. This can provide an important basis for the development of a new paradigm of wood science research driven by data. 3) Frame the QWA research from the perspective of systematic development theory. Comparatively investigate the similarities and differences between wood anatomy and other fields, such as plant anatomy, ecology, wood processing and utilization by the view of underlying logic and hierarchy architecture. Promote and innovate the multidisciplinary development. QWA promotes multi-disciplinary integration, and provides theoretical and scientific basis for research on forest cultivation, forest management, tree classification, forest carbon sink, climate change, wood production and sustainable utilization.

Key words: secondary xylem, wood anatomy, quantitative wood anatomy, anatomical traits, high flux testing