Introduction

Question 1

What is the difference between magnification and resolution?

Answer 1

Magnification is the amount an image is increased. Resolution is the smallest distance between two items that are discernible as separate objects

Question 2

What are the main steps involved in tissue preparation for light microscopy?

Answer 2

Fix
Embed 
Section
Stain
Mount/coverslip

Question 3

What is the purpose of fixation in microscopy?

Answer 3

1. Quickly terminate cell metabolic processes.
2. Prevent autolysis (self degradation)
3. Kill pathogens
4. Hardens tissues (cross-linking/denature of protein components)

Question 4

Describe the fixation technique for light microscopy.

Answer 4

MC fixatives are formalin and alcohol

Come back to this

Question 5

Describe H&E staining method

Answer 5

Different dyes are used to stain different components within a cell

Haematoxylin, a blue stain is for acidic

Eosin, a red stain is for basic (proteins) components

Question 6

What are acidic components such as numeric acids stained with?

Answer 6

Haematoxylin- a blue colored dye

Question 7

What are basic components like proteins dyed with?

Answer 7

Eosin a red colored stain

Question 8

What stinks carbohydrates such as glycogen and mucus?

Answer 8

Periodic Acod-Schiff (PAS) stain

Question 9

What stain is used for elastic tissue?

Answer 9

Weigert’s elastic tissue stain

Question 10

Stains for Neural tissue

Answer 10

Nissl’ ( crest violet) stain for ER in neuronal sonata and proximal dendrites
Luxor fast blue for myelin