MTAP (Microtomy- Flotation) Flashcards
The process of cutting very thin tissue sections using a microtome
Microtomy
5 Basic Types of Microtomes
- Rocking Microtome (Cambridge)
- Rotary Microtome (Minot Rotary)
- Sliding Microtome (obsolete type)
- Base Sledge Microtome (type of sliding microtome) - Freezing Microtome
- Vibrating Microtome
Who invented rocking microtome?
Paldwell Trefall
Oldest in design, cheap, simple, and extremely reliable. Requires very minimal maintenance
Rocking Microtome
Mechanism of action: Knife is fixed, while the tissue block moves. Tissue moves in an arc to strike the knife, between strokes, the block is moved towards the knife by a ratchet-operated micrometer thread
Steady backward and forward movement creates ribbons of good sections
Rocking Microtome
Blade moves, not the tissue, that is why its dangerous. It is also very heavy
Rocking Microtome
Invented by Professor Minot
Rotary Microtome
Designed for cutting large tissue blocks (e.g., whole brains)
Base Sledge Microtome
Rotary Microtome is also called?
Minot Rotary
Mechanism of action: Knife is horizontal and fixed. Tissue block slides backward and forward on a steel carriage
Base Sledge Microtome
Most commonly used microtome for paraffin-embedded tissues
Rotary Microtome
Mechanism of Action: Handwheel rotates 360°, specimen moves vertically past the knife. Micrometer screw advances the tissue block for precise, flat sections
Rotary Microtome
Designed for celloidin-embedded tissue blocks
and can also be used for paraffin-embedded sections
Sliding Microtome
Commonly used in neuropathology & ophthalmic pathology
Base Sledge Microtome
Advantages of Base Sledge Microtome
➔ Heavy and stable → No vibration
➔ Large wedge-shaped knife (24 cm) → Less vibration
➔ Adjustable knife-holding clamps allow angle adjustments
Mechanism of action: Knife/blade is stationary. Specimen slides under the knife during sectioning
Sliding Microtome
Disadvantages of Sliding Microtome
Very large consumes the entire bench table
This microtome is Obsolete
Sliding Microtome
Best for cutting frozen sections
Freezing microtome
Machine is clamped to the edge of a bench and connected to a CO₂ cylinder. Equipped with a knife freezing attachment
Freezing microtome
In a freezing microtome, this is used to freeze tissue
CO₂ gas
Mechanism of action: CO₂ gas is used to freeze tissue. Knife edge is cooled by CO₂ to prevent thawing. Sections transferred directly from knife to slides
Freezing microtome
Freezing Microtome – Section Thickness Gauge
Graduated in 5 µm units instead of 1 µm
Used for cutting unfixed, unprocessed, or unfrozen tissue
Vibrating Microtome