In a method and an arrangement for depicting structures IR light sources and receivers are disposed in one plane, and are guided as area radiators and area receivers in the x-y-z direction to the object. The area radiator radiates with a particular radiation cross section and a particular intensity. IR diodes used for radiation are triggered with a peak current preferably up to 1 amp and with a pulse frequency of preferably up to 100 kHz and the backscatter being detected. IR attenuation gradient profiles of the volume elements, determined in real time, as well as the arrangement of the area radiator-receiver sensor, enable an exact spatial assignment of the volume elements in the micrometer to centimeter range and a contrasting representation of certain structures.