4-microtomy
4-microtomy
4-microtomy
Microtome:
• Basic instrument used in microtomy.
• Mechanical device for cutting thin uniform slices of tissue –
sections.
Basic Parts of a Microtome
Types of microtomes
• There are several types of microtomes named according
to the mechanism.
• Each designed for a specific purpose.
• Rocking microtome
• Base sledge microtome
• Sliding microtome
• Freezing microtome
• Ultramicrotome
• Rotary microtome
Rocking microtome:
• Name derived from the rocking action of the cross arm.
• The retracting action moves the tissue block away from
the knife on the upstroke
• Oldest in design, cheap , simple to use.
• Extremely reliable.
• Very minimum maintenance.
Mechanism of action:
• Knife is fixed, the block of the tissue moves through an
arc to strike the knife.
• Between strokes the block is moved towards the knife for
the required thickness of sections by means of a ratchet
operated micrometer thread.
• Steady backward and forward movement of the handle
gives ribbons of good sections.
Disadvantage:
• Size of the block that can be cut is limited.
• Sections are cut in a curved plane: (
Microtomes designed to cut perfectly flat sections; the block
moving through an arc at right angles to the knife edge are
available.)
• Light instrument : advisable to fit it into a tray which is
screwed to the bench , or to place it on a damp cloth to avoid
movement during cutting.
Base Sledge Microtome
• Originally designed for cutting sections of very large
blocks of tissue (eg. whole brains )
• Used primarily for large blocks, hard tissues, whole
mounts (eg. Prostate gland).
• Especially useful in neuropathology and ophthalmic
pathology.
Mechanism of action:
• Drying oven :
• Mounted section placed in an oven at 50 degree celsius
for 1 hour to dry.
• Hot plates:
• Slide complete with section may be transferred directly
to the surface of the hot plate maintained at a
temperature of 55-60 degree celsius and left for 15 min.
• Section left face up until water evaporates then turned
over to prevent dust settling.
• Small creases disappear as the section warms up.
Brush and forceps
• Forceps, brushes or teasing needles for removal of folds,
creases and bubbles that may form during the floating
out of the section on water bath.
• Manipulating the section as it passes acrosss the edge of
the blade.
Slides
• For normal routine work, 76x25 mm slides universally
used.
• Thickness :1-1.2mm,do not break as easily.
• Larger slides for tissues such as eyes or brain.
• Chemical resistant pens and pencils routinely used to
label the slide.
Section adhesives
Hard tissues
• Decreasing the rake angle.
• Resharpening the knife.
• Softening agents: solution
of 4 % phenol,
• Mollifex(British drug houses Ltd)soak the block for 30-60
minutes
• Fragmentation of tissue:
• Blood clots and lymphoid tissues :
increasing the rake angle. coating
the block with celloidin by a camel hair brush in between
the sections.
Serial sections