In microtomy, the bevel angle refers to which feature?

• A. Angle between block face and blade cutting edge
• B. Angle of the stage tilt
• C. Angle of the knife sharpness
• D. Angle of the microtome handle rotation

Answer: (A)

Bevel angle describes how the blade edge meets the tissue block during cutting—the angle between the block face and the blade’s cutting edge. This blade-edge geometry controls how the tissue is sheared off: a proper bevel angle allows a smooth, uniform cut and good ribbon formation, while an incorrect angle can cause tearing, chatter, or tissue compression. The other adjustments (stage tilt, separate concepts of blade sharpness or handle rotation) are not what defines the bevel angle.