Which artifact results from uneven cutting or mounting?

• A. Chatter artifacts
• B. Fold artifacts
• C. Edge artifacts
• D. Shrinkage

Answer: (B)

Folds are the artifact that appears when the tissue section isn’t lying flat or becomes creased during the cutting and mounting process. Uneven cutting leaves sections with variable thickness, and during mounting the tissue may not unfold completely or may lie in a curved plane, causing it to fold over itself. This creates a crumpled, pleated appearance that distorts the underlying histology and can obscure structures. To prevent folds, maintain a sharp, well-aligned blade, ensure consistent section thickness, float and unfurl sections carefully in warm water, and place them gently and evenly on a clean slide, then flatten and dry properly. Other artifacts like chatter, edge artifacts, or shrinkage arise from different issues such as knife vibration, tearing at the margins, or processing effects, respectively.