Which of the following is a role of a fixative in histology?

In histology, the primary role of a fixative is to preserve cellular structures and prevent degradation by inactivating intracellular enzymes. When tissues are harvested for microscopic examination, fixatives work by stabilizing proteins and other cellular components, effectively "locking" them in place. This is crucial because cellular enzymes, if left active, could continue to break down cellular components and alter the morphology of the specimen before it can be properly analyzed.

While enhancing the color of specimens can be a function of certain staining techniques rather than a role of the fixative, providing nutrients to cells is not applicable as fixatives serve purely to preserve and not to nourish tissues. Additionally, fixatives operate on the entire specimen rather than focusing solely on the outer layers of cells, ensuring that all parts of the tissue are adequately preserved for accurate examination. Hence, the inactivation of enzymes is vital for maintaining the integrity of the sample throughout the histological processing.