Tissue sectioning from a microtome in histotechnology is like driving a car
- Tissue sectioning from a microtome in histotechnology is like driving a car. It requires many component skills, you need to know the different parts of the machine, called the microtome. You need to know where to put the tissue block, where to put the blade, where the drive wheel is, where the locking levers are, etc. You need to check if all components are in good shape before you start. After you put the tissue block in the specimen holder you might need to adjust the block to an ideal position before you start sectioning/cutting.
- Like driving a car, you have to know where all the components are: gas, brake pedals and rear view mirrors, etc. And also if seat position is ideal. And if anything needs to be adjusted, adjust them to your liking before you drive. You must check those components before you start driving.
- When you start cutting, it can be as smooth sailing as driving a car on a road with no traffic, or it can be difficult as there could be something present in the tissue (e.g. sutures) that is preventing you to section a nice ribbon. Which is similar to driving a car, anything on the road e.g. pot holes, can prevent us from driving smoothly and at a steady speed.
- Sometimes, tissue might not be completely decalcified and causes artifacts on your sections, you will need to remove the tissue block from the specimen holder and place the block on a decalcification solution before sectioning again. This is like driving a car, depending on the road condition, you might need to adjust your driving technique or simply take another route to get to the destination.
Overall, using a microtome to cut tissue is comparable to driving a car—a skill that improves with practice, where repetition leads to mastery.
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