What device is used to cut the ultrathin sections needed for electron microscopy?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: Ultramicrotome
An ultramicrotome uses glass or diamond knives to slice tissue embedded in hard plastic resins. It is capable of consistent slicing at nanometer-scale thickness.
Keep practicing
More Electron Microscopy questions
- Which embedding medium is most commonly used for electron microscopy due to its hardness and stability under an electron beam?
- The image in a Transmission Electron Microscope is traditionally projected onto what for real-time viewing?
- Which technique involves 'shadowing' a specimen with heavy metal at an angle to highlight surface detail in TEM?
- Which electron microscopy preparation technique is specifically used to study the internal organization of cellular membranes?
- In Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), what is the purpose of coating the specimen with gold or platinum?
- Which artifact is caused by the high-energy electron beam damaging or 'burning' a thin section during viewing?