Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the primary goal of fixation in the histopathology laboratory?
What is the primary goal of fixation in the histopathology laboratory?
What is the critical reason for performing fixation immediately after removing tissue from the body?
What is the critical reason for performing fixation immediately after removing tissue from the body?
Why are improperly fixed tissues problematic in histopathology?
Why are improperly fixed tissues problematic in histopathology?
What is one of the effects of using fixatives during the fixation process?
What is one of the effects of using fixatives during the fixation process?
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How do fixatives help in preserving tissues during fixation?
How do fixatives help in preserving tissues during fixation?
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Which of the following is NOT a goal of fixation in histopathology?
Which of the following is NOT a goal of fixation in histopathology?
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What is the process of autolysis?
What is the process of autolysis?
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What is the optimal pH for fixation?
What is the optimal pH for fixation?
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What is the usual osmolality range for fixation?
What is the usual osmolality range for fixation?
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At what rate does the fixative penetrate the tissue?
At what rate does the fixative penetrate the tissue?
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What is the working temperature for fixation in Electron Microscopy (EM) & Histochemistry?
What is the working temperature for fixation in Electron Microscopy (EM) & Histochemistry?
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How long does buffered formalin usually take to completely fix tissues?
How long does buffered formalin usually take to completely fix tissues?
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Study Notes
Fixation in Histopathology
- The primary goal of fixation is to preserve the tissue in its natural state, preventing degradation and decomposition, and allowing for accurate histological diagnosis.
Importance of Immediate Fixation
- Immediate fixation is critical to prevent autolysis, a process in which tissues degrade and break down due to enzymatic activity, leading to loss of tissue morphology and potential diagnostic errors.
Consequences of Improper Fixation
- Improperly fixed tissues can lead to artefacts, compromising the accuracy of histological diagnosis and potentially resulting in incorrect treatment.
Effects of Fixatives
- One of the effects of using fixatives is to cross-link proteins, preventing tissue degradation and maintaining tissue structure.
Role of Fixatives
- Fixatives help preserve tissues by denaturing proteins, preventing enzymatic activity, and maintaining tissue morphology.
Goals of Fixation
- The goal of fixation is not to kill microorganisms, but to preserve tissue morphology and prevent degradation.
Autolysis
- Autolysis is the process of self-digestion of tissues, resulting in degradation and loss of tissue morphology.
Optimal Fixation Conditions
- The optimal pH for fixation is close to neutrality, around 7.
- The usual osmolality range for fixation is 300-320 mmol/kg.
- Fixatives penetrate tissue at a rate of approximately 1 mm per hour.
Fixation in Electron Microscopy (EM) and Histochemistry
- The working temperature for fixation in EM and Histochemistry is around 4°C.
Fixation Timeframe
- Buffered formalin usually takes around 24-48 hours to completely fix tissues.
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Description
Learn about the importance of fixation in preserving cells and tissues for histopathology analysis. Understand when to perform fixation and why it is considered a critical step in the laboratory process.
