What is the primary objective of the 'fixation' step in tissue preparation?
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Correct answer: To terminate metabolic processes and prevent autolysis
Fixation stabilizes biological structures by cross-linking proteins and inactivating enzymes. This prevents self-digestion (autolysis) and bacterial degradation, preserving the tissue in a life-like state.
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More Tissue Preparation questions
- Which of the following chemical agents is the most commonly used primary fixative for light microscopy?
- Dehydration of a tissue specimen is typically achieved by passing it through a graded series of:
- What is the specific purpose of the 'clearing' step in the tissue processing sequence?
- During embedding, why must the tissue be carefully oriented in the mold?
- Which instrument is used to cut thin sections (typically 5–10 micrometers) from a paraffin-embedded block?
- What occurs during the 'infiltration' step of tissue processing?