Clearing Flashcards
What is the process of removing dehydrating agents and replacing them with a fluid miscible with both dehydrant and embedding medium?
Clearing (Dealcoholization)
What effect does clearing have on tissues?
Renders them translucent
What are the risks of over-clearing?
Causes brittleness
What agents are used for frozen sections instead of clearing?
Glycerin or gum syrup
What is the most commonly used clearing agent in routine tissue processing?
Xylene
Which clearing agent has a rapid clearing time of 15–30 minutes to 1 hour?
Xylene
Which clearing agent is suitable for celloidin sections and tissues less than 5 mm thick?
Xylene
Which clearing agent turns milky if tissues are incompletely dehydrated?
Xylene
Which clearing agent is NOT recommended for nervous tissues and lymph nodes?
Xylene
What is a less carcinogenic substitute for xylene or benzene that prevents excessive tissue hardening?
Toluene
Which clearing agent remains safe for tissues even if left for 1 day but is toxic upon prolonged exposure?
Toluene
Which clearing agent is recommended for urgent biopsies but is highly carcinogenic and causes aplastic anemia?
Benzene
Which clearing agent minimizes tissue hardening and shrinkage but is toxic?
Benzene
Which slower-acting clearing agent causes less brittleness and is suitable for blocks up to 2 cm thick?
Chloroform
Which clearing agent is hepatotoxic and makes tissues float without becoming translucent?
Chloroform
Which expensive clearing agent is recommended for CNS tissues and cytology, requiring 2 changes?
Cedarwood Oil
Which clearing agent is very slow (2–3 days) but causes no distortion even with indefinite storage?
Cedarwood Oil
Which clearing agent is used for embryos, insects, and delicate tissues but not for routine purposes?
Aniline Oil
Which clearing agent causes minimal shrinkage but tends to become adulterated?
Clove Oil
Which oil is recommended for skin and smooth muscle but not routine use?
Clove Oil
Which cheaper alternative to chloroform causes tissue hardening and is highly toxic?
Carbon Tetrachloride
Which slow-acting agents are used for the double embedding technique?
Methyl Benzoate and Methyl Salicylate
Which oil is used for smooth muscle and skin?
Oil of Bergamot
Which oil is specific for skin?
Oil of Origanum
