Sectioning and Microtomy

Question 1

Excess wax is cut off from the block to expose the tissue surface in preparation for actual section cutting.

Answer 1

Trimming

Question 2

A process by which tissue is cut into uniformly thin slices or sections on a precision instrument called a “microtome” using extremely fine steel blades.

Answer 2

Sectioning

Question 3

cutting engine of the histopath lab

Answer 3

microtome

Question 4

Means by which tissues can be sectioned and attached to the surface so that examination by microscopy can take place.

Answer 4

Microtomy

Question 5

What microtome knife is designed for ultrathin section microtome examined under an electron microscope?

Answer 5

Diamond edged knife

Question 6

What microtome knife is designed for rotary microtomes?

Answer 6

Biconcave knife

Question 7

What is the most commonly used microtome?

Answer 7

Rotary microtome

Question 8

What microtome knife is used for rotary and rocking, celloidin embedded microtome and one side is flat the other side is concave?

Answer 8

Plane-concave knife

Question 9

• removal of gross nicks and blemishes, and grinding the cutting edge of the knife to stone
• lubrication: xylene, mineral oil, clove oil, paraffin, and soapy water
• “Edge first” heel to toe, 20-30 times, abrasives (powdered aluminum oxide).

Answer 9

Honing

Question 10

• removal of the burr
• “Edge last” Toe to heel, 40-120 double strokes
• Horse leather (use castor oil to prevent rusting)

Answer 10

Stropping

Question 11

Identify the material for honing.

• Best manual sharpening

Answer 11

Belgium Yellow

Question 12

Identify the material for honing.

• more polishing effect than Belgium Yellow

Answer 12

Arkansas

Question 13

Identify the material for honing.

• much coarser for badly nicked knives

Answer 13

Fine carborundum

Question 14

Identify the material for honing.

• use fiamanthine for final polishing

Answer 14

Plate glass hone

Question 15

Identify the material for honing.

• glass disc or wheel driven by electric motor

Answer 15

Machine hone

Question 16

What is the angle for the bevel of the knife?

Answer 16

27-32 degrees

Question 17

What is the clearance angle when using a knife?

Answer 17

5-15 degrees

Question 18

Identify the type of microtome.

• for cutting serial sections of large blocks of paraffin-embedded tissues
• cuts section in a slightly curved plane
• simplest and oldest
• vibrates while cutting
• 10-12microns
• Caldwell &Trefall 1881

Answer 18

Rocking microtome

Question 19

Identify the type of microtome.

• for cutting paraffin-embedded tissues in a flat plane
• no vibrations
• 4 to 6 µm
• Minot

Answer 19

Rotary microtome

Question 20

Identify the type of microtome.

• for cutting celloidin-embedded tissues
• 7-9 µm

Answer 20

Sliding microtome

Question 21

Identify the type of microtome.

• used for electron microscopy
• 0.5 microns

Answer 21

Ultra-thin microtome