Which artifact is most likely when blade tilt is too much?

• A. Chatter On The Section
• B. Free-Floating Ribbons
• C. Smooth Sections
• D. No Effect

Answer: (A)

Blade tilt determines how the knife edge engages the tissue. When the tilt is excessive, the edge contacts the block at too steep an angle, which destabilizes the cut and can cause vibration as the edge moves through the tissue. This produces a chattery, sawtooth-like surface on the section. That visible waviness is the artifact most likely to appear with too much blade tilt.

Other artifacts aren’t primarily caused by tilt. Free-floating ribbons come from sections that don’t adhere to the water bath due to factors like paraffin temperature or block softness. Smooth sections indicate a correct, clean cut, and no effect would imply no issue with tilt. To fix, reduce the tilt to the proper angle, check knife sharpness, and ensure appropriate sectioning speed and pressure.