The influence of the geometrical distribution of cell-wall tissues on the transverse anisotropic dimensional changes of softwood has been studied using two isotropic models. A finite element model has been used to calculate the thermal expansion of two aluminium plates without and with holes in the two perpendicular directions. Moisture expansion measurements in the two perpendicular directions were conducted using a polyamide (PA6) plate containing several holes. No differences were found in either the thermal expansion of the aluminium plates or the moisture expansion of the PA6 plate between the two perpendicular directions. Thus, the investigation suggests that the geometrical distribution of cell-wall tissues has no effect on the transverse anisotropic shrinkage of softwood.