what should be the ratio between the volume of the tissue and the fixative
A- 1 ratio 5
B- 1 : 10
C- 1 ratio 20
D- 1 ratio 100
In histology, the ratio between the volume of the tissue and the fixative is crucial for effective fixation and preservation of tissue samples. The general recommendation is to use a fixative volume that is at least **10 times** the volume of the tissue sample. This means the ratio of fixative to tissue should be approximately 10:1.
Here’s why this ratio is important:
1. **Complete Immersion**: A fixative volume 10 times that of the tissue ensures that the entire tissue sample is completely immersed in the fixative. This thorough immersion is necessary to achieve uniform fixation and prevent areas of the tissue from being inadequately fixed.
2. **Preventing Tissue Overfixation**: Using too much fixative relative to the tissue helps to prevent overfixation, which can lead to tissue hardening and difficulty in sectioning.
3. **Optimal Fixation**: Adequate volume ensures that the fixative can penetrate the tissue properly, allowing for optimal preservation of cellular and tissue structures. Insufficient fixative volume might result in uneven or incomplete fixation.
4. **Practical Considerations**: In practice, ensuring that the fixative covers the tissue entirely and maintains this ratio helps avoid problems related to poor fixation quality, such as artifacts or loss of tissue detail.
To summarize, maintaining a 10:1 ratio of fixative to tissue volume is a standard practice to ensure that the fixation process is effective and that the tissue is preserved properly for subsequent processing and analysis.