The word "polymicrotome" refers to a type of microtome, a device used for cutting thin sections of tissue for microscopic examination. Its spelling can be broken down using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA): /pɑliːmaɪkroʊtoʊm/. The initial "p" sounds like a "p", the "o" like an "ah" sound, and the "y" is pronounced like a long "e". The "tome" at the end sounds like "tohm" and the "micro" in the middle sounds like "my-kro". The word "polymicrotome" is most commonly used in scientific research and analysis.
A polymicrotome is a specialized scientific instrument used in histology and microscopy to slice very thin sections of biological samples, such as animal or plant tissues, for examination under a microscope. The term "polymicrotome" is derived from the Greek words "poly," meaning many, and "microtome," which refers to a device used to cut extremely thin slices.
The polymicrotome consists of a cutting mechanism and a sample holder. It utilizes a razor blade or diamond knife to precisely cut the tissue into sections that are typically between 1 and 100 micrometers thick. These thin slices allow researchers and pathologists to study the internal structures and cellular makeup of the samples in detail at the microscopic level.
The device often incorporates a mechanism to control the thickness of the sections, enabling researchers to obtain consistent and uniform slices. It may also include adjustable features to vary the angle or orientation of the tissue, enabling specific orientations of the sample to be examined.
Polymicrotomes are widely used in various scientific disciplines, including medicine, biology, botany, and zoology. They play a crucial role in research, diagnosis, and teaching, as they allow scientists and clinicians to study the structural characteristics, cellular organization, and pathological changes within tissues of interest.
In summary, a polymicrotome is a sophisticated instrument utilized for precisely cutting thin sections of biological samples for microscopic analysis, aiding in the understanding of tissue structures and their functions.
A microtome which makes several sections at one stroke.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "polymicrotome" is a compound word derived from three Greek roots: "poly-" meaning "many", "micro-" meaning "small", and "tome" meaning "a cutting instrument or tool".
The term "polymicrotome" is mainly used in the field of histology, which is the study of the microscopic structure of tissues. In histology, a microtome is a device used to cut thin slices of tissue for examination under a microscope. The prefix "poly-" in "polymicrotome" indicates that this particular microtome is capable of cutting multiple thin slices simultaneously.
So, in summary, "polymicrotome" comes from the Greek roots "poly-" (many), "micro-" (small), and "tome" (a cutting instrument), and it refers to a device capable of cutting multiple thin tissue slices simultaneously for microscopic examination.