Mikrotomi

Mikrotomi is the Turkish term for a microtome, a precision instrument used to cut very thin slices of biological tissue or other materials for microscopic examination. It is a fundamental tool in histology and pathology, as well as in research and materials science, where high-quality thin sections are required for staining and imaging.

Most modern mikrotom are rotary microtomes featuring a fixed blade and a movable specimen block or holder. Variants include cryomicrotomes, used to cut frozen tissue sections for rapid diagnostic work, and ultramicrotomes, designed to produce ultrathin sections for electron microscopy. The choice of microtome and knife type depends on the material, desired section thickness, and downstream imaging method.

Operation typically involves embedding the tissue in a supportive medium such as paraffin or resin, mounting the block on a chuck, and adjusting the thickness setting on the instrument. The specimen is advanced against the blade, producing serial sections that are transferred to a water bath, floated onto slides, and dried. Common section thicknesses for paraffin-embedded tissue range from about 3 to 10 micrometers, while resin sections and ultrathin preparations require thinner cuts. After cutting, sections are mounted, stained, and examined under a light or fluorescence microscope.

Care and maintenance are important: blades must be sharp, the knife angle properly set, and the instrument kept clean and properly lubricated. Proper handling minimizes artifacts and section loss, ensuring reliable microscopic analysis.

See also: microtome, histology, pathology.