Sliding

Sliding microtomes are suited for sectioning specimens embedded in all forms of media, especially tough tissue blocks. They were developed mainly for cutting celloidin-embedded tissue blocks. Sliding microtome sections are cut in a perfectly flat plane, thereby making excellent serial tissue sections. The block remains stationary while the knife is moved backward and forward during the process of sectioning.  Typically, a large knife (120 mm to 180 mm in length) usually wedge shaped is used. Sectioning with a sliding microtome is a slower process than with a rotary microtomes and is more dangerous due to a movable exposed knife. However, it is more stable with less vibration than the ordinary rotary microtome. Cut thickness is between 1 and 60 µm.