Which artifact is characterized by empty circular spaces within the cytoplasm of cells, often seen in frozen sections?
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Correct answer: Ice crystal artifact
In frozen sections, if the tissue is frozen too slowly, water molecules coalesce to form ice crystals. When these melt during staining, they leave behind characteristic 'holes' or vacuoles in the tissue architecture.
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More Histological Artifacts questions
- The presence of a dark, opaque, granular precipitate throughout a section fixed in Zenker's or B-5 fixative is likely:
- If a tissue section appears 'cloudy' or 'milky' after clearing with xylene and before mounting, what is the most likely cause?
- What histological artifact is caused by the slow rate of fixative penetration, leading to enzymatic degradation of the tissue center?
- Which artifact results in a 'shish-kebab' or 'telescoping' effect where tissue layers are pushed into one another?
- Which of the following can cause the 'knife line' artifact, seen as a straight vertical tear across the section?
- A 'double contour' or 'ghosting' of nuclei is often an artifact related to: