Dünnschnittverfahren

Dünnschnittverfahren, also known as thin sectioning, is a technique used in microscopy to prepare extremely thin slices of a sample for examination. This process is crucial for transmitting light through opaque or semi-opaque materials, allowing for detailed observation of internal structures. The sample is typically embedded in a hardening medium such as resin or wax, which provides support during the cutting process. Specialized cutting instruments, like a microtome or a diamond saw, are then used to shave off very thin sections, often measured in micrometers or even nanometers. The thinness of the section is critical because it enables light to pass through, revealing cellular components, microstructures, and other fine details that would otherwise be obscured. After cutting, these thin sections are usually mounted on a glass slide and, depending on the type of microscopy, may undergo staining or other treatments to enhance contrast and highlight specific features. Dünnschnittverfahren is widely applied in various scientific fields, including biology, medicine (histology), materials science, and geology, to study the microscopic architecture of diverse specimens.