This document discusses microtomy, which is the process of cutting very thin sections of tissues, organs, or whole animals for histological studies using a microtome machine. It describes the basic parts and functioning of rotatory microtomes, which cut sections through rotation rather than rocking. The document outlines the key steps involved in microtomy, including fixation, dehydration, infiltration, embedding, section cutting, staining, and mounting. Microtomy requires careful attention to detail at each step to avoid spoiling the final histological preparation.

1. Microtme and MicrotomyMicrotme and Microtomy
Presentation byPresentation by
ANIL KUMAR DONGREANIL KUMAR DONGRE
Ph.D. ScholarPh.D. Scholar
DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOYDEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOY
B.U. BHOPALB.U. BHOPAL

2. MICROTOME & MICROTOMYMICROTOME & MICROTOMY
INTRODUCTION - :INTRODUCTION - :
MICROTOMY IS THE PROCESS INMICROTOMY IS THE PROCESS IN
WHICH MICROTONE , A MACHINE IS USED TO CUT THEWHICH MICROTONE , A MACHINE IS USED TO CUT THE
ORGANS THE AND TISSUES IN TO VERY THIN SECTIONORGANS THE AND TISSUES IN TO VERY THIN SECTION
FOR HITOLOGYCAL STUDIES. A PART FROM THEFOR HITOLOGYCAL STUDIES. A PART FROM THE
HISTROLOGYCAL STUDIES , HISTOCHEMICAL , HISTOHISTROLOGYCAL STUDIES , HISTOCHEMICAL , HISTO
PATHOLOGICAL , EMBRYOLOGICAL AND SEVERALPATHOLOGICAL , EMBRYOLOGICAL AND SEVERAL
OTHER CLINICAL STUDIES ALSO INVOLVE INOTHER CLINICAL STUDIES ALSO INVOLVE IN
MICROTOMY .MICROTOMY .
CEVALIER 1839 WAS THE FIRST TOCEVALIER 1839 WAS THE FIRST TO
INTODUCE THE TERM MICROTOME FOR THE MACHINEINTODUCE THE TERM MICROTOME FOR THE MACHINE
USED IN CUTTING SECTION.USED IN CUTTING SECTION.

3. 1- ROTATORY MICROTOME -:1- ROTATORY MICROTOME -:

4. Know –a-days , a number of moderls ofKnow –a-days , a number of moderls of
rotatory microtomes are available. Therotatory microtomes are available. The
basic principles is the same as that ofbasic principles is the same as that of
rocking Microtomes. Rotatory icrotomerocking Microtomes. Rotatory icrotome
has a heavy base over which all partshas a heavy base over which all parts
are mounted. In place of rocking handleare mounted. In place of rocking handle
, there is a heavy circular wheel, the, there is a heavy circular wheel, the
drive wheel , which has to be rotated.drive wheel , which has to be rotated.

5. A divice for sitting theA divice for sitting the
Microtome to give section ofMicrotome to give section of
desired thickness is provided.desired thickness is provided.
There is a cercular grooved diskThere is a cercular grooved disk
at the rear end which moves antiat the rear end which moves anti
clock wise by the exect distanceclock wise by the exect distance
as the desired thikness of sectionas the desired thikness of section
for which the microtome has beenfor which the microtome has been
set.set.

6. There is a central exle toThere is a central exle to
move the front portion of themove the front portion of the
microtome forvered by exactly themicrotome forvered by exactly the
same distance simultaneously as thesame distance simultaneously as the
fornt part moves up and down. Tofornt part moves up and down. To
this fornt part, is fixed the blockthis fornt part, is fixed the block
holder carrying the paraffinholder carrying the paraffin
containing imbedded tissues. In thiscontaining imbedded tissues. In this
case the razor is mounted on a pearcase the razor is mounted on a pear
of hands with a groove and adjustingof hands with a groove and adjusting
screws as in the case of a rockingscrews as in the case of a rocking

7. Microtome. This is the razor holdingMicrotome. This is the razor holding
device which is movable forwardsdevice which is movable forwards
and down words along to groves oneand down words along to groves one
the heavy base of the microtome.the heavy base of the microtome.
The microtome knife must beThe microtome knife must be
used the most carefully. Goodsused the most carefully. Goods
section can be oftened, when thesection can be oftened, when the
razor is uniformly sharp and israzor is uniformly sharp and is
absolutely without any nicks.absolutely without any nicks.

8. MICROTOMYMICROTOMY
Microtomy is the process of cuttingMicrotomy is the process of cutting
thin sections of desired tissues ,thin sections of desired tissues ,
organs or even whole animals fororgans or even whole animals for
historlogical, histopathologycal andhistorlogical, histopathologycal and
histochemichal studies. The processhistochemichal studies. The process
inwolves a detailed procedure,inwolves a detailed procedure,
followed step by step with extrafollowed step by step with extra
ordinary care. It is a lengthy processordinary care. It is a lengthy process
and if one step followed care lesslyand if one step followed care lessly
or omitted can spoile the results,or omitted can spoile the results,

9. And this would be know onlyAnd this would be know only when thewhen the
procedure has been completed and theprocedure has been completed and the
prepration spoilt. There for, whole processprepration spoilt. There for, whole process
and each step shuld be followed with greatand each step shuld be followed with great
care . However , includes the following stepscare . However , includes the following steps
1. Material1. Material
2. Fixation of material2. Fixation of material
3. Washing of fixative from material3. Washing of fixative from material
4. Dehydration of material4. Dehydration of material
5. Prepration of paraffine vax5. Prepration of paraffine vax

10. 6. Preparation of material for6. Preparation of material for
embeddingembedding
7. Paraffing infiltration and7. Paraffing infiltration and
embeddingembedding
8. Block making8. Block making
9. Trimming of block9. Trimming of block
10. Section cutting10. Section cutting
11. Spreading of ribbon11. Spreading of ribbon
12. Double staining12. Double staining
13. Mounting13. Mounting