What is the purpose of embedding in laboratory processes?

The purpose of embedding in laboratory processes primarily involves providing external support and protection to the samples being analyzed. This technique is especially crucial in histology, where tissues are embedded in a medium, typically paraffin, to stabilize the structure of the tissue during sectioning and to prevent any damage that could occur during the slicing process.

Embedding not only helps maintain the integrity of the tissue samples, allowing for precise and thin sections to be cut for microscopic examination, but it also ensures that the samples remain intact, thus preserving the cellular architecture and morphology that are vital for accurate diagnosis. By enveloping the samples in a solid medium, the risk of distortion or loss during manipulation and processing is minimized.

While enhancing visibility of samples, ease of handling, and proper labeling are important aspects of laboratory work, they are secondary when it comes to the specific role of embedding, which is fundamentally about support and protection of the samples during analysis.