Which of the following can cause the 'knife line' artifact, seen as a straight vertical tear across the section?
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Correct answer: A nicked or damaged microtome blade
Knife lines are caused by a defect in the blade's edge or a hard inclusion (like calcium or a staple) in the tissue block. As the block moves across the blade, the defect or particle tears the section in a straight line.
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More Histological Artifacts questions
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