HISTOPATHOLOGY AND CYTOLOGIC TECHNIQUES MTPC15

LESSON 1: Orientation

Prof. Noraine Princess G. Tabangcora, RMT, MSMT

Prelim: 2nd semester

ORIENTATION

- Process by which tissue is arranged in the mold

during embedding, on the microtome before
cutting and on the slide before staining.
o Tissues are blocked with the surface to
be cut facing down in a mold.
- In the laboratory, PAPER BOAT is used as a mold.
- It placed in the mold in diagonal position.

PRACTICAL POINTS TO CONSIDER

- Orient biopsy specimens submitted EN TOTO
1. Elongated tissues: placed diagonally across the
(embed on the edge to view all layers) ON END
block.
OR ON EDGE.
2. Tubular and walled specimens, (cysts, fallopian
tubes, GIT tissues, vas deferens); en face to provide o Use consistency and aligning
cross sections showing all tissue layers. o When proceeding to microtomy, all
- Part of the lumen should be facing layers of the tissue should be exposed.
downwards. o Tissues should all face in the same
- Intestines: Mucosa should be last to be direction.
cut.
- Cervix: Dense tissues should be
cut first before the edge.
- In unmolding all the layers will be visible.
3. Epithelial surface (skin): sections in a plane at a
right angle to the surface (hairy or keratinized
epithelia are oriented to face the knife diagonally) - Orient biopsy specimens submitted BISECTED
- Faced diagonally across the block or DISSECTED on the CUT EDGE.
- Parts of the skin with hair or keratinized o Cut or sliced in two
epithelia should be oriented faced down, so
o The area that is cut during bisection
it will be directly cut by the knife.
should be faced down to be exposed.
- Epidermis: should be cut last
o Arranged according to size.
- All layers of the skin should be visible
during cutting.
4. Multiple tissue pieces: aligned across the long
axis and the center of the mold; not placed
randomly.
- Place tissues or small tissue fragments
close to each other (side by side) with a
space in between.
- Not Randomly placed in the mold
- Placed in Same Alignment at the center of
the mold.

PEREZ, A.J.L BSMT 3-1 LPU-D MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

 HISTOPATHOLOGY AND CYTOLOGIC TECHNIQUES MTPC15
LESSON 1: Orientation

Prof. Noraine Princess G. Tabangcora, RMT, MSMT

Prelim: 2nd semester
- Orient “breadloaf” dissected specimens with - Cut and orient VAS, FTS, and TAR lumen down.
the largest cut edge down. In order for tissue layers be visible in
o Should not be randomly placed. microtomy.
o The largest size should be below the o VAS DEFERENS
mold. o FIBROMA OF THE TENDON SHEATH
o The small cuts will be above the mold.
o TEMPORAL ARTERY

- When possible, arrange multiple sample

pieces in the block to permit maximum
representation on the resulting microslide.
o Prefers to have pair for each ribbon on
a slide. Max of 8 total section on 1
slide.
o Maximize the usage of the tissue and
should be arranged accordingly.

- Orient needle core pieces:

- usually long and thin.
- should be oriented in the same plane as flat as
possible.
1. without overlapping or layering,
2. arrange to permit maximum representation
on the slide.

PEREZ, A.J.L BSMT 3-1 LPU-D MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY