When alcohol is used as the primary fixative one should expect which outcome?

• A. Excessive tissue shrinkage
• B. Tissue swelling
• C. No change
• D. Increased rigidity

Answer: (A)

Alcohol acts as a dehydrating fixative. By precipitating proteins and removing water from tissue, it causes the tissue to collapse and lose volume, leading to shrinkage. The dehydration also makes the tissue more rigid, but the primary observable outcome is excessive shrinkage. Swelling would come from water uptake, which isn’t what alcohol does; no change would contradict the dehydration effect.