Microtome in Microscopy
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Questions and Answers

What is the main purpose of a microtome?

  • To slice hard materials like bone and plant matter
  • To observe samples under transmitted light
  • To cut extremely thin slices of material for observation (correct)
  • To prepare samples for electron radiation

    • What type of blade is used to slice hard materials like bone and plant matter?

  • Glass knives
  • Ceramic knives
  • Diamond knives (correct)
  • Steel blades

    • What is the typical thickness range of microtome sections?

  • Between 50 nm and 100 μm (correct)
  • Between 1 nm and 100 nm
  • Between 1 mm and 10 mm
  • Between 1 μm and 1 cm

    • What is the earliest form of microtomy?

    <p>Freehand sectioning of fresh or fixed material using a sharp razor</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the typical application of a sledge microtome?

    <p>Preparing large samples embedded in paraffin for biological preparations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the typical cut thickness achievable on a rotary microtome?

    <p>Between 1 and 60 μm</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of microtome is used to prepare thin sections for materials like bones, minerals, and teeth?

    <p>Rotary microtome</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How many types of microtomes are mentioned in the content?

    <p>9</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the minimum thickness of a section that can be cut using a sledge microtome?

    <p>0.5 μm</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of a cryomicrotome setup?

    <p>To reduce the sample temperature and increase the hardness of the sample</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the typical thickness of sections cut using an ultramicrotome?

    <p>40-100 nm</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the advantage of using a vibrating microtome?

    <p>It requires less pressure to cut the sample</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of microtome is suitable for cutting hard materials such as teeth or bones?

    <p>Saw microtome</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the advantage of using a laser microtome?

    <p>It allows for contact-free slicing of the sample</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the typical range of thickness for sections cut using a vibrating microtome?

    <p>30-500 μm</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the minimum thickness of a section that can be cut using a saw microtome?

    <p>30 μm</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Microtome

    • A microtome is a device used to cut extremely thin slices of material, known as sections, which is important in science.
    • Microtomes are used in microscopy to prepare samples for observation under transmitted light or electron radiation.
    • The device uses steel, glass, or diamond blades, depending on the specimen being sliced and the desired thickness of the sections being cut.

    Types of Blades

    • Steel blades are used to prepare sections of animal or plant tissues for light microscopy histology.
    • Glass knives are used to slice sections for light microscopy and to slice very thin sections for electron microscopy.
    • Diamond knives are used to slice hard materials such as bone, teeth, and plant matter for both light microscopy and electron microscopy.

    Microtomy

    • Microtomy is used to prepare thin sections for materials such as bones, minerals, and teeth.
    • Microtome sections can be made thin enough to section a human hair across its breadth, with section thickness between 50 nm and 100 μm.

    History of Microtomy

    • The earliest form of microtomy was the freehand sectioning of fresh or fixed material using a sharp razor.

    Types of Microtomes

    • There are several types of microtomes, including:
      • Rocking microtome
      • Rotary rocking microtome
      • Sledge microtome
      • Rotary microtome
      • Cryomicrotome
      • Ultramicrotome
      • Vibrating microtome
      • Saw microtome
      • Laser microtome

    Sledge Microtome

    • Typical applications for this design of microtome are for the preparation of large samples, such as those embedded in paraffin for biological preparations.
    • Typical cut thickness achievable on a sledge microtome is between 1 and 60 μm.

    Rotary Microtome

    • The typical cut thickness for a rotary microtome is between 1 and 60 μm.
    • For hard materials, such as a sample embedded in a synthetic resin, this design of microtome can allow good "semi-thin" sections with a thickness of as low as 0.5 μm.

    Cryomicrotome

    • For the cutting of frozen samples, many rotary microtomes can be adapted to cut in a liquid-nitrogen chamber, in a so-called cryomicrotome setup.
    • The reduced temperature allows the hardness of the sample to be increased, which allows the preparation of semi-thin samples.

    Ultramicrotome

    • It allows the preparation of extremely thin sections, with a typical thickness of between 40 and 100 nm for transmission electron microscopy.
    • Diamond knives (preferably) and glass knives are used with ultramicrotomes.
    • To collect the sections, they are floated on top of a liquid as they are cut and are carefully picked up onto grids suitable for TEM specimen viewing.

    Vibrating Microtome

    • The vibrating microtome operates by cutting using a vibrating blade, allowing the resultant cut to be made with less pressure than would be required for a stationary blade.
    • The vibrating microtome is usually used for difficult biological samples.
    • The cut thickness is usually around 30–500 μm for live tissue and 10–500 μm for fixed tissue.

    Saw Microtome

    • The saw microtome is especially used for hard materials such as teeth or bones.
    • The microtome of this type has a recessed rotating saw, which slices through the sample.
    • The minimal cut thickness is approximately 30 μm and can be made for comparatively large samples.

    Laser Microtome

    • The laser microtome uses contact-free slicing and does not require prior preparation of the sample.
    • It can also be used for very hard materials, such as bones or teeth, as well as some ceramics.
    • The typical thickness of the cuts made by a laser microtome is between 10-100 μm.

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    Related Documents

    Microtome Types PDF

    Description

    A device used to cut extremely thin slices of material for observation under transmitted light or electron radiation.

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