Artifacts can arise during various stages of the histological process:
Fixation: Inadequate fixation can lead to shrinkage or swelling of tissues. Dehydration: Over-dehydration can cause brittleness, while under-dehydration can result in poor infiltration. Embedding: Improper embedding can introduce folds and air bubbles. Sectioning: Uneven or thick sections may yield poor-quality slides. Staining: Variations in staining techniques can cause differential staining or color artifacts.