diff --git a/scikits/image/morphology/tests/test_morphology.py b/scikits/image/morphology/tests/test_morphology.py
index 7cea1e07..93606848 100644
--- a/scikits/image/morphology/tests/test_morphology.py
+++ b/scikits/image/morphology/tests/test_morphology.py
@@ -63,46 +63,47 @@ class TestMorphology():
                           greyscale_close, disk)
 
 
-BLACK_PIXEL = 255 * np.ones((4, 4), dtype=np.uint8)
-BLACK_PIXEL[1, 1] = 0
-WHITE_PIXEL = 255 - BLACK_PIXEL
-SELEM = square(2)
+class TestEccentricStructuringElements():
 
-def test_dilate_erode_symmetry():
-    c = greyscale_erode(BLACK_PIXEL, SELEM)
-    d = greyscale_dilate(WHITE_PIXEL, SELEM)
-    assert np.all(c == (255 - d))
-
-
-def test_open_dark_pixel():
-    assert np.all(greyscale_open(BLACK_PIXEL, SELEM) == BLACK_PIXEL)
-
-def test_close_white_pixel():
-    assert np.all(greyscale_close(WHITE_PIXEL, SELEM) == WHITE_PIXEL)
-
-
-def test_open_white_pixel():
-    assert np.all(greyscale_open(WHITE_PIXEL, SELEM) == 0)
-
-def test_close_dark_pixel():
-    assert np.all(greyscale_close(BLACK_PIXEL, SELEM) == 255)
-
-
-def test_white_tophat_white_pixel():
-    tophat = greyscale_white_top_hat(WHITE_PIXEL, SELEM)
-    assert np.all(tophat == WHITE_PIXEL)
-
-def test_black_tophat_black_pixel():
-    tophat = greyscale_black_top_hat(BLACK_PIXEL, SELEM)
-    assert np.all(tophat == (255 - BLACK_PIXEL))
-
-
-def test_white_tophat_black_pixel():
-    tophat = greyscale_white_top_hat(BLACK_PIXEL, SELEM)
-    assert np.all(tophat == 0)
-
-def test_black_tophat_white_pixel():
-    tophat = greyscale_black_top_hat(WHITE_PIXEL, SELEM)
-    assert np.all(tophat == 0)
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.black_pixel = 255 * np.ones((4, 4), dtype=np.uint8)
+        self.black_pixel[1, 1] = 0
+        self.white_pixel = 255 - self.black_pixel
+        self.selem = square(2)
+
+    def test_dilate_erode_symmetry(self):
+        c = greyscale_erode(self.black_pixel, self.selem)
+        d = greyscale_dilate(self.white_pixel, self.selem)
+        assert np.all(c == (255 - d))
+
+    def test_open_dark_pixel(self):
+        grey_open = greyscale_open(self.black_pixel, self.selem)
+        assert np.all(grey_open == self.black_pixel)
+
+    def test_close_white_pixel(self):
+        grey_close = greyscale_close(self.white_pixel, self.selem)
+        assert np.all(grey_close == self.white_pixel)
+
+    def test_open_white_pixel(self):
+        assert np.all(greyscale_open(self.white_pixel, self.selem) == 0)
+
+    def test_close_dark_pixel(self):
+        assert np.all(greyscale_close(self.black_pixel, self.selem) == 255)
+
+    def test_white_tophat_white_pixel(self):
+        tophat = greyscale_white_top_hat(self.white_pixel, self.selem)
+        assert np.all(tophat == self.white_pixel)
+
+    def test_black_tophat_black_pixel(self):
+        tophat = greyscale_black_top_hat(self.black_pixel, self.selem)
+        assert np.all(tophat == (255 - self.black_pixel))
+
+    def test_white_tophat_black_pixel(self):
+        tophat = greyscale_white_top_hat(self.black_pixel, self.selem)
+        assert np.all(tophat == 0)
+
+    def test_black_tophat_white_pixel(self):
+        tophat = greyscale_black_top_hat(self.white_pixel, self.selem)
+        assert np.all(tophat == 0)