What is the primary cause of 'chatter' or microscopic vibrations seen in a histological section?
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Correct answer: Dull microtome knife or excessive knife tilt
Chatter appears as parallel lines or waves in the section, often caused by vibrations when the knife is too dull or the clearance angle is too steep. It indicates that the tissue is being pushed rather than sliced smoothly.
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More Histological Artifacts questions
- Which artifact appears as dark, needle-like brown crystals, often occurring when the pH of the fixative falls below 6.0?
- A 'venetian blind' appearance in a tissue section, characterized by parallel cracks or splits, is most frequently associated with:
- Which of the following describes 'crush artifact' commonly seen in small biopsies?
- What is the likely cause of 'parched earth' or 'cracked' appearance in the tissue when viewed under the microscope?
- Which artifact is characterized by empty circular spaces within the cytoplasm of cells, often seen in frozen sections?
- The presence of a dark, opaque, granular precipitate throughout a section fixed in Zenker's or B-5 fixative is likely: