Tissue Processing Flashcards
Tissue processors are mostly ___________.
Automated
Tissue processing, __________, staining, and microscopy are often used.
Microtomy
Tissue processing is a procedure involving the removal of ________ from cells, and replacing it with a medium which solidifies, allowing for thin sections to be cut on a microtome.
Water
Dehydration is achieved through __________ grades of alcohol, such as ethanol, IMS, etc..
Ascending
__________ have considerable factors such as agitation (mechanical agitation hastens dehydration), heat (higher temperatures are more effective), time (long, slow, dehydration is best), and shrinkage.
Dehydrants
The solvent displaces the alcohol in the tissue, through a process called _________.
Clearing
The solvent displaces the alcohol in the tissue, through a process called _________.
Clearing
Solvent clearing removes a substantial amount of fat from the tissue, and imparts an optical transparency to the tissue, due to the its high ___________ __________.
Refractive index
List the ideal criteria of clearing agents.
Rapid removal of dehydration agent, easily removable by liquid paraffin, minimal tissue damage, lack of flammability, lack of toxicity, and cost
True or false: clearing reagents are generally non-toxic.
False
___________-based clearing substitutes are a mixture of aliphatic hydrocarbons, and have less toxicity.
Limonene
During ____________, the specimen is impregnated with paraffin wax.
Infiltration
Molten __________ displaces the xylene, and when cooled, solidifies to a consistency for microtome sectioning.
Paraffin
Paraffin infiltration is greatly enhanced by _______.
Vacuum
True or false: paraffin wax is non-hazardous.
True
Solidified paraffin holds the cells and intercellular structures in their proper relationship; for this reason, it is referred to as a __________ medium.
Supporting
_______________ is the orientation of the tissue in the support medium, and allowing it to solidify.
Embedding
Why is embedding performed?
To facilitate microscopic visualisation, to enable good preservation of morphology and components, and to allow for long-term preservation, filing, and storage
In the embedding process, the tissue is surrounded in a molten medium, using a _________.
Mould
Overnight processing is still used in laboratories, but for smaller pieces of tissue, _______ processing is done.
Rapid
Rapid processing can be done in two to five hours for endoscopic and _________ biopsies.
Needle
