Microtomy

Question 1

a process whereby tissues are cut into thin slices

Answer 1

microtomy/sectioning

Question 2

3 general types of tissue sections

Answer 2

celloidin, paraffin, frozen

Question 3

Process of cutting off excess wax from the tissue block to expose
the tissue surface

Answer 3

trimming

Question 4

cacapable of cutting a section at a predetermined thickness by sliding the block into a cutting
tool

Answer 4

microtome

Question 5

usually a steel knife, glass or diamond blade, which is fixed and attached to the machine

Answer 5

microtome

Question 6

3 essential parts of microtome

Answer 6

block holder, knife carrier and knife, pawl, ratchet feed wheel and adjustment screws

Question 7

where the tissue is held in position.

Answer 7

Block Holder

Question 8

for actual cutting of tissue sections.

Answer 8

Knife Carrier and Knife

Question 9

to line up the tissue block in proper
position with the knife, adjusting the proper thickness of the tissue for successive sections.

Answer 9

Pawl, Ratchet Feed Wheel and Adjustment Screws

Question 10

principle of microtome

Answer 10

a spring-balanced teeth or pawl is brought into contact with, and turns a ratchet
feed wheel connected to a micrometer screw, which is in turn rotated, moving the
tissue block at a predetermined distance towards the knife for cutting sections at
uniform thickness

Question 11

-The simplest microtome, for cutting serial
sections of large blocks
of paraffin embedded
tissues

Answer 11

rocking microtome

Question 12

most common microtome ,for paraffin-
embedded sections

Answer 12

rotary microtome

Question 13

-The most dangerous
type of microtome and for celloidin embedded sections

Answer 13

sliding microtome

Question 14

-for unembedded
frozen sections

Answer 14

Freezing microtome

Question 15

-Capable of freezing
tissues in 2-3 minutes

Answer 15

*Cryostat/cold microtome

Question 16

-for cutting sections for
electron microscopy

Answer 16

Ultrathin microtome

Question 17

Recommended knife for cutting
PARAFFIN embedded
sections on a ROTARY
MICROTOME

Answer 17

biconcave knife

Question 18

Recommended knife for FROZEN SECTIONS or for cutting extremely hard and tough specimens embedded in PARAFFIN blocks, using a BASE-SLEDGE or SLIDING MICROTOME

Answer 18

PLANE-WEDGE KNIFE

Question 19

Recommended knife for cutting
CELLOIDIN embedded tissues
blocks on a SLIDING
MICROTOME

Answer 19

PLANE CONCAVE KNIFE

Question 20

Angle formed between the cutting edges (27 o - 32 o)

Answer 20

BEVEL ANGLE

Question 21

knife is usually tilted at 0-15° angulation on a
microtome to allow a clearance angle between the
cutting facet and the tissue block

Answer 21

CLEARANCE ANGLE

Question 22

purpose of sharpening the blade

Answer 22

to remove irregularities with the use of
HONES

Question 23

types of hones

Answer 23

Belgium Yellow, Arkansas, Fine carborundum

Question 24

Gives the BEST RESULT (type of hone)

Answer 24

Belgium Yellow

Question 25

Gives more polishing effect than the Belgium
Yellow (type of hone)

Answer 25

Arkansas

Question 26

Used only for badly nicked knives, followed by
either one of the first two knife sharpeners (type of hone)

Answer 26

Fine carborundum

Question 27

process in honing

Answer 27

edge first, heel to toe direction

Question 28

process in stropping

Answer 28

TOE TO HEEL, EDGE LAST

Question 29

designed for drying tissue section on slides.

Answer 29

Drying oven or hot plate

Question 30

These tools are needed for handling sections during cutting, and for removing folds and
creases on the sections during “floating out” in water bath.

Answer 30

Forceps (fine pointed or curved) and squirrel hair brush

Question 31

temperature of waterbath

Answer 31

5-10 degrees celcius