Microtomy

Question 1

Process by which processed tissue, most commonly a paraffin embedded tissue, is trimmed and cut into uniformly thin slices or “sections” to facilitate studies under the microscope

Answer 1

MICROTOMY

Question 2

Three Essential Parts of Microtome

Answer 2

1. Block Holder
2. Knife Carrier and Knife
3. Pawl, Ratchet Feed Wheel and Adjustment Screws

Question 2

Basic instrument used that is capable of cutting a section at a predetermined thickness by sliding the block into a cutting tool, usually a steel knife, glass or diamond blade, which is fixed and attached to the machine

Answer 2

Microtome

Question 3

Inventor of Rocking (Cambridge) Microtome

Answer 3

Paldwell Trefall in 1881

Question 4

Inventor of Rotary (Minot) Microtome

Answer 4

Minot in 1885-86

Question 5

Inventor of Sliding microtome

Answer 5

Adams in 1789

Question 6

Inventor of Freezing Microtome

Answer 6

Queckett in 1848

Question 7

Microtome used for cutting serial sections of large blocks of paraffin embedded tissues and used to cut small and large blocks of paraffin tissues

Answer 7

Rocking (Cambridge) Microtome

Question 8

Simplest among the different types of microtomes

Answer 8

Rocking (Cambridge) Microtome

Question 9

Microtome not recommended for serial sections since tissues are cut in slightly curved planes

Answer 9

Rocking (Cambridge) Microtome

Question 15

Microtome that cuts 3 to 5 µm using paraffin wax

Answer 15

Rotary (Minot) Microtome

Question 15

Microtome that cuts into 10 to 12 u thickness

Answer 15

Rocking (Cambridge) Microtome

Question 15

Microtome consists of a heavy base and two arms

Answer 15

Rocking (Cambridge) Microtome

Question 16

Microtome for cutting paraffin embedded sections

Answer 16

Rotary (Minot) Microtome

Question 16

Most common type of microtome used for both routine and research laboratories

Answer 16

Rotary (Minot) Microtome

Question 16

Microtome where knife and the block holder are brought together by upward and vertical motions, cutting sections in a perfectly flat plane, thereby allowing excellent serial sections to be cut

Answer 16

Rotary (Minot) Microtome

Question 16

Rotary (Minot) Microtome knife is fixed in a ____________ position

Answer 16

horizontal

Question 17

Heavier and more stable microtome

Answer 17

Rotary (Minot) Microtome (heavier knife is used, less vibration)

Question 21

Microtome for cutting celloidin embedded sections

Answer 21

Sliding microtome

Question 22

Microtome where knife can be set obliquely for celloidin sections or straight for large refractory paraffin blocks, cutting both large and small tissues with ease

Answer 22

Sliding microtome

Question 23

Microtome recommended for cutting extremely hard and rough tissue blocks

Answer 23

Sliding microtome

Question 24

Most dangerous type of microtome (movable exposed knife)

Answer 24

Sliding microtome

Question 25

Microtome consists of two movable pillars holding the adjustable knife clamps, allowing the knife to be set at an angle for cutting celloidin sections

Answer 25

Base-Sledge Microtome

Question 26

Microtome where chuck or block holder is set on a heavy metal base which can be moved backwards and forwards under the knife

Answer 26

Base-Sledge Microtome

Question 27

Microtome where block remains stationary while the knife is moved backward and forward during the process. Also, a more dangerous because of the movable knife.

Answer 27

Standard Sliding Microtome

Question 27

Microtome favored in laboratories where very hard tissue or large blocks are usually sectioned

Answer 27

Base-Sledge Microtome (heavier and more stable)

Question 28

Microtome used for cutting unembedded frozen sections

Answer 28

Freezing Microtome

Question 29

Microtome where stage for block holder is hollow and perforated around its perimeter, attached to a reinforced flexible lead pipe thru which carbon dioxide passes from a cylinder

Answer 29

Freezing Microtome

Question 30

Microtome used to cut undehydrated thin to semi-thin sections of fresh, frozen tissues, especially in instances when rapid diagnosis is required, when histological demonstration of fat is needed, when certain neurological structures are to be studied, and when sensitive tissue constituents to be studied are damaged or destroyed by heat

Answer 30

Freezing Microtome

Question 31

Microtome that gives the best results for cutting frozen section and is used almost universally

Answer 31

Freezing Microtome

Question 32

A type of microtome where knife moved while the tissue block remains static

Answer 32

Freezing Microtome (same as sliding microtome)

Question 33

Microtome used for cutting frozen sections

Answer 33

Cryostat or Cold Microtome

Question 34

Refrigerated apparatus used for freezing the tissue into the block holder to the correct degree of hardness that allows for easier and faster sectioning

Answer 34

Cryostat

Question 35

Microtome present in cryostat

Answer 35

Rotary microtome

Question 36

Microtome that that cut sections of 4 µ with ease

Answer 36

Cryostat or Cold Microtome

Question 37

Microtome that provides thin sections of fresh frozen tissues especially for fluorescent antibody staining techniques or histochemical enzyme studies

Answer 37

Cryostat or Cold Microtome

Question 38

Microtome most commonly used for rapid preparation of urgent tissue biopsies for intraoperative diagnosis

Answer 38

Cryostat or Cold Microtome

Question 39

Microtome use for cutting sections for Electron Microscopy

Answer 39

Ultrathin Microtome

Question 40

Ultrathin microtome knife

Answer 40

glass or gem grade diamond knife

Question 41

Knife used to cut very thin sections (typically 60 to 100 nanometer) of tissue embedded in epoxy resin

Answer 41

glass or gem grade diamond knife

Question 42

Microtome used to cut semi-thin sections (0.5 to 1 µm thick) prior to thin sectioning

Answer 42

Ultrathin Microtome

Question 43

Microtome Knives Length: Plane-Concave Knife: Biconcave Knife: Plane-Wedge Knife:

Answer 43

Microtome Knives Length: Plane-Concave Knife: 25 mm Biconcave Knife: 120 mm Plane-Wedge Knife: 100 mm

Question 44

Knife recommended for cutting celloidin-embedded tissue blocks on a sliding microtome

Answer 44

Plane-Concave Knife (Less Concave Sides)

Question 45

Knife used to cut paraffin sections on base-sledge, rotary or rocking microtome

Answer 45

Plane-Concave Knife (More Concave Sides)

Question 46

Knife recommended for cutting paraffin embedded sections on a rotary microtome

Answer 46

Biconcave Knife

Question 47

Knife recommended for frozen sections or for cutting extremely hard and tough specimens embedded in paraffin blocks, using a base sledge type or sliding microtome

Answer 47

Plane-Wedge Knife

Question 48

Knife with plain slides with a steep edge, used for cutting very dense tissues (undecalcified bone), and imitate chisels

Answer 48

Tool Edge Knife

Question 51

Angle between the bevel of the knife and the imaginary perpendicular line from the surface of the block

Answer 51

Rake Angle

Question 52

Angle formed between the cutting edges of the knife

Answer 52

Cutting Angle/ Bevel Angle

Question 53

Knife should be inclined to ______ clearance angle from the cutting plane so that the cutting facet will not compress the block during the process of cutting to prevent uneven sections, or alternate thin and thick sections

Answer 53

5-10°

Question 54

Involves the removal of gross nicks on the knife edge

Answer 54

Honing (Hard Sharpening)

Question 55

Natural sharpening stone or hard grinding surface (carborundum), which serves to remove nicks and irregularities on the knife edges

Answer 55

Hone

Question 56

Types of Hones

Answer 56

Belgium Yellow Arkansas Fine carborundum

Question 57

Hone that gives the best result

Answer 57

Belgium Yellow (for manual sharpening when cutting edge has been rendered blunt or nicked)

Question 58

Hone that gives more polishing effect than the Belgium Yellow

Answer 58

Arkansas

Question 59

Hone used only for badly nicked knives followed by either one of the first two knife sharpeners

Answer 59

Fine carborundum (much coarser than the first two)

Question 60

Honing Process - ____ first, in a ____ to ___ direction

Answer 60

edge first, in a heel to toe direction

Question 61

Strokes per side in honing process

Answer 61

20-30 strokes

Question 62

Used for grinding and removing nicks

Answer 62

Aluminum oxide

Question 63

Used for final polishing

Answer 63

Diamantine

Question 64

Process whereby the "burr" formed during honing is removed and the cutting edge of the knife is polished

Answer 64

Stropping (polish and sharpen the cutting edge)

Question 65

Stropping - for _________ or ______ knives, knife is turned around at the end of each stroke so as to sharpen each surface alternately - for ______________ knives, only the concave surface should be stropped

Answer 65

Stropping - for plane-wedge or minot knives, knife is turned around at the end of each stroke so as to sharpen each surface alternately - for planeconcave knives, only the concave surface should be stropped

Question 66

Stropping Process - ____ last, in a ____ to ___ direction

Answer 66

- edge last, in a toe to heel direction

Question 67

Strokes done in stropping

Answer 67

40-120 strokes

Question 68

Waterbath temperature should be _ to ____ below the melting point of the paraffin wax

Answer 68

5 to 10°C

Question 69

Needed for handling sections during cutting, and for removing folds and creases on the sections during "floating out" in water bath

Answer 69

Forceps (fine pointed or curved) and Squirrel Hair Brush

Question 70

Dimension of preferred clean slide

Answer 70

76 x 25 mm and 1.0 to 1.2 mm thick are usually preferred