The preparation of stained sections involves several steps:
Fixation: Tissues are preserved using chemical fixatives like formaldehyde to prevent decay and maintain structure. Embedding: Fixed tissues are embedded in paraffin wax or plastic resins to provide support for thin sectioning. Sectioning: Thin slices (usually 4-5 micrometers thick) are cut using a microtome. Staining: Sections are treated with specific stains to highlight different cellular components. Mounting: Stained sections are placed on glass slides and covered with a coverslip for microscopic examination.