Once the tissue is extracted, it undergoes several preparatory steps before being examined under a microscope. These steps include:
Fixation: This step involves preserving the tissue to prevent degradation. Common fixatives include formalin and ethanol. Embedding: The fixed tissue is embedded in a solid medium, usually paraffin wax, to provide support for sectioning. Sectioning: Thin slices of the embedded tissue are cut using a microtome. These slices are typically a few micrometers thick. Staining: The tissue sections are stained to enhance the contrast of cellular components. Common stains include Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E).
