Tissue Preparation for Light Microscopy

Why is it necessary to prepare thin sections of tissue for microscopic examination?

The primary goal of tissue preparation is to perfectly preserve the tissue's structure as it was in the body, without any distortions.

What is the purpose of fixation in tissue preparation?

A common fixative used in light microscopy is buffered 37% ______.

Match the following fixatives with their primary applications.

Which type of microscopy requires more precise fixation to preserve ultrastructural details?

Paraffin is commonly used as an embedding material in electron microscopy.

Describe the purpose of the dehydration process in tissue preparation.

The process of replacing ethanol with an organic solvent to make tissue translucent is called ______.

Match the steps of tissue preparation with their descriptions.

What temperature range is typically used for melting paraffin during the embedding process?

Using high temperatures during plastic embedding can prevent tissue distortion.

What instrument is used to cut tissue sections for microscopy?

Paraffin sections for light microscopy are typically cut at a thickness of 3–______ μm.

Match the type of microscopy with the typical thickness of tissue sections used.

What is the purpose of vascular perfusion when preparing large organs for histological examination?

Glutaraldehyde is primarily used in light microscopy due to its superior ability to preserve lipids.

What is the key difference in fixation requirements between light microscopy and electron microscopy?

After dehydration with ethanol, tissues undergo a process called 'clearing,' in which ethanol is replaced by an ______ solvent.

Match each embedding material with its appropriate application in microscopy.

What is the primary purpose of embedding tissues in a material like paraffin or plastic resin?

The clearing process involves immersing tissues in increasingly dilute concentrations of ethanol to remove water.

Why is it important to gradually increase ethanol concentrations during the dehydration process, rather than using 100% ethanol immediately?

During the embedding process, cleared tissue is placed in melted paraffin at a temperature between 52°C and ______°C.

Match the term with its description related to the preparation of tissues.

What is the primary reason for using plastic resins instead of paraffin for embedding tissues in electron microscopy?

The term 'sectioning' refers to the process of clearing tissues to make them transparent for microscopic examination.

Briefly explain the purpose of using osmium tetroxide in electron microscopy.

For better fixative penetration, tissues are typically cut into ______ fragments before fixation.

Match the microscopy type with its typical application in visualizing cellular structures.

When preparing tissues for electron microscopy, which of the following sequences of fixatives is typically used?

Clearing the tissue is essential for proper fixation.

What happens to the clearing solvent when tissue is placed in melted paraffin during the embedding process?

After embedding, the tissue hardens in a small container at ______ temperature.

Match the following types of microscopy with their suitable embedding materials.

What is the most direct consequence of not properly fixing a tissue sample?

Dehydration is performed after the tissue has been cleared.

Name two common fixatives used in electron microscopy.

The embedding process involves infiltrating tissue with a supporting medium like paraffin, which hardens to provide ______ for sectioning.

Match each process with what the process accomplishes.