Introduction about microtome

                         MICROTOME

INSTRUMENTATION:

                                       Microtome use steel , glass and diamond blades depending upon the the specimen being sliced and the desired thickness of the section being cut . steel blades are used to prepare sections of animals or plant tissues for light microscopy histology. Glass knives are used to slice sections of light microscopy and to slice very thin sections for electron microscopy. Industrial grade diamond knives are used to slice hard materials such as bones , teeth and plant matter for both light microscopy and for electron microscopy gem quality diamond knives are used for slicing thin sections of electron microscopy.

PRINCIPLE:

                        microtome is a sectioning instrument that allows the cutting of extremely thin slices of a material known as section . microtome are used in microscopy , allowing for the preparation of sample for observation under transmitted light or electrons radiation . it is a method for the preparation of thin section for materials such as bones, minerals, and teeth.

                                            

                                           

WORKING :

                             Microtome is a common instrument . this device operates with a staged rotary action such that the cutting is part of the rotary motion . in a rotary microtome ,blade is fixed in horizontal position . through the motion of the sample holder, the sample is cut by the knife position , at which point the fresh section remains on the knifes , at the highest point of the rotary motion , the sample holders is advanced by the same thickness as the section that is to be made , allowing for the next section to be made.

The flywheel is many microtomes can be operated by hands . this has the advantages that clean cut be made , as the  relatively large mass of the fly wheel prevents the sample from being stopped during the sample cut. It cuts thickness between 1 and 60 micron meter. For hard material , its cits a semi thin section with a thickness of as low as .5 micron meter.

USES:

1.   Setting up the rotary microtome .

2.   Put the prepared blocks of wax having tissue or organ .

3.   Adjust the sample and rotate the rotor.

4.   The thickness of slides can be adjusted.

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