diff --git a/cv_analysis/utils/structures.py b/cv_analysis/utils/structures.py
index cafbf97..9e10433 100644
--- a/cv_analysis/utils/structures.py
+++ b/cv_analysis/utils/structures.py
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 from json import dumps
-
 from typing import Iterable
+
 import numpy as np
-from funcy import identity
+from funcy import identity, juxt
 
 
 class Rectangle:
@@ -80,24 +80,9 @@ class Rectangle:
         return any(rect.includes(self) for rect in rectangles if not rect == self)
 
     def adjacent(self, rect2: "Rectangle", tolerance=7):
-        # tolerance=1 was set too low; most lines are 2px wide
-        def adjacent2d(sixtuple):
-            g, h, i, j, k, l = sixtuple
-            return (abs(g - h) <= tolerance) and any(k <= p <= l for p in [i, j])
-
         if rect2 is None:
             return False
-        return any(
-            map(
-                adjacent2d,
-                [
-                    (self.x2, rect2.x1, rect2.y1, rect2.y2, self.y1, self.y2),
-                    (self.x1, rect2.x2, rect2.y1, rect2.y2, self.y1, self.y2),
-                    (self.y2, rect2.y1, rect2.x1, rect2.x2, self.x1, self.x2),
-                    (self.y1, rect2.y2, rect2.x1, rect2.x2, self.x1, self.x2),
-                ],
-            )
-        )
+        return adjacent(self, rect2, tolerance)
 
     @classmethod
     def from_xyxy(cls, xyxy_tuple, discrete=True):
@@ -126,6 +111,87 @@ class Rectangle:
         return all([self.x1 == rect.x1, self.y1 == rect.y1, self.w == rect.w, self.h == rect.h])
 
 
-class Contour:
-    def __init__(self):
-        pass
+def adjacent(alpha: Rectangle, beta: Rectangle, tolerance=7):
+    """Check if the two rectangles are adjacent to each other."""
+    return any(
+        juxt(
+            # +---+
+            # |   | +---+
+            # | a | | b |
+            # |   | +___+
+            # +___+
+            alpha_is_left_of_beta_within_tolerance_and_beta_overlaps_alphas_y_range,
+            #       +---+
+            # +---+ |   |
+            # | b | | a |
+            # +___+ |   |
+            #       +___+
+            alpha_is_right_of_beta_within_tolerance_and_beta_overlaps_alphas_y_range,
+            # +-----------+
+            # |     a     |
+            # +___________+
+            #    +-----+
+            #    |  b  |
+            #    +_____+
+            alpha_is_above_beta_within_tolerance_and_beta_overlaps_alphas_x_range,
+            #    +-----+
+            #    |  b  |
+            #    +_____+
+            # +-----------+
+            # |     a     |
+            # +___________+
+            alpha_is_below_beta_within_tolerance_and_beta_overlaps_alphas_x_range,
+        )(alpha, beta, tolerance)
+    )
+
+
+def alpha_is_left_of_beta_within_tolerance_and_beta_overlaps_alphas_y_range(alpha: Rectangle, beta: Rectangle, tol):
+    """Check if the first rectangle is left of the other within a tolerance and also overlaps the other's y range."""
+    return adjacent_along_one_axis_and_overlapping_along_perpendicular_axis(
+        alpha.x2, beta.x1, beta.y1, beta.y2, alpha.y1, alpha.y2, tolerance=tol
+    )
+
+
+def alpha_is_right_of_beta_within_tolerance_and_beta_overlaps_alphas_y_range(alpha: Rectangle, beta: Rectangle, tol):
+    """Check if the first rectangle is right of the other within a tolerance and also overlaps the other's y range."""
+    return adjacent_along_one_axis_and_overlapping_along_perpendicular_axis(
+        alpha.x1, beta.x2, beta.y1, beta.y2, alpha.y1, alpha.y2, tolerance=tol
+    )
+
+
+def alpha_is_above_beta_within_tolerance_and_beta_overlaps_alphas_x_range(alpha: Rectangle, beta: Rectangle, tol):
+    """Check if the first rectangle is above the other within a tolerance and also overlaps the other's x range."""
+    return adjacent_along_one_axis_and_overlapping_along_perpendicular_axis(
+        alpha.y2, beta.y1, beta.x1, beta.x2, alpha.x1, alpha.x2, tolerance=tol
+    )
+
+
+def alpha_is_below_beta_within_tolerance_and_beta_overlaps_alphas_x_range(alpha: Rectangle, beta: Rectangle, tol):
+    """Check if the first rectangle is below the other within a tolerance and also overlaps the other's x range."""
+    return adjacent_along_one_axis_and_overlapping_along_perpendicular_axis(
+        alpha.y1, beta.y2, beta.x1, beta.x2, alpha.x1, alpha.x2, tolerance=tol
+    )
+
+
+def adjacent_along_one_axis_and_overlapping_along_perpendicular_axis(
+    axis_0_point_1,
+    axis_1_point_2,
+    axis_1_contained_point_1,
+    axis_1_contained_point_2,
+    axis_1_lower_bound,
+    axis_1_upper_bound,
+    tolerance,
+):
+    """Check if two points are adjacent along one axis and two other points overlap a range along the perpendicular
+    axis."""
+    return all(
+        [
+            abs(axis_0_point_1 - axis_1_point_2) <= tolerance,
+            any(
+                [
+                    axis_1_lower_bound <= p <= axis_1_upper_bound
+                    for p in [axis_1_contained_point_1, axis_1_contained_point_2]
+                ]
+            ),
+        ]
+    )