Using harder paraffin primarily makes cutting easier for which type of sections?

• A. Soft, undecalcified tissue.
• B. Decalcified bone sections.
• C. Frozen sections.
• D. Clear sections.

Answer: (B)

The idea is that the embedding medium’s rigidity helps the knife slice through tissue without tearing or compressing it. When bone is decalcified, the mineral content is removed, making the tissue relatively soft. Using a harder paraffin block provides extra support to the softened bone, improving block stability and producing clean, uniform thin sections. Soft undecalcified tissue wouldn’t benefit from this extra hardness in the same way, and frozen sections don’t involve paraffin embedding at all. Therefore, harder paraffin mainly aids cutting decalcified bone sections.