Abstract: Various of the disclosed embodiments contemplate systems and methods for assessing structural complexity within an intra-surgical environment. For example, in some embodiments, surface characteristics from three-dimensional models of a patient interior, such as a colon, bronchial tube, esophagus, etc. may be used to infer the surface's level of complexity. Once determined, complexity may inform a number of downstream operations, such as assisting surgical operators to identify complex regions requiring more thorough review, the automated recognition of healthy or unhealthy tissue states, etc. While some embodiments apply to generally cylindrical internal structures, such as a colon or branching pulmonary pathways, etc., other embodiments may be used within other structures, such as inflated laparoscopic regions between organs, joints, etc. Various embodiments also consider graphical and feedback indicia for representing the complexity assessments.