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Questions and Answers
What is the function of the cassette clamp or block holder in a rotary microtome?
Which part of the rotary microtome moves the block holder toward or away from the knife?
What is the purpose of the advancement hand wheel in a rotary microtome?
Why is a safety lock important for the advancement hand wheel?
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What is the range of micron settings for section thickness on most microtomes?
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What part of the rotary microtome provides support for the entire instrument?
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Study Notes
Rotary Microtome Parts
Cassette Clamp or Block Holder
- Holds the paraffin block in place and moves up and down with each revolution while the blade is stationary.
- May have knobs that allow the user to manipulate the block face in various directions to align the tissue with the blade.
Coarse Hand Wheel
- Moves the block holder towards or away from the knife.
Advancement Hand Wheel
- Turns in one direction to advance the block towards the knife at specified microns.
- Equipped with a safety lock to prevent the wheel from releasing and having the block holder come down towards the blade while a block is inserted or removed.
- The safety lock should be used when not actively sectioning paraffin blocks.
Micron Adjustment
- Allows for section thickness settings ranging from 1 to 60 microns on most microtomes.
Base
- The base on which the entire microtome rests.
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Description
Identify and understand the different parts of a rotary microtome, including their functions and roles in the sectioning process.
