Which statement best describes a benefit of paraffin embedding?

• A. Serial sections are easy to obtain
• B. It prevents tissue cracking
• C. It eliminates the need for dehydration
• D. It makes the tissue grow

Answer: (A)

Paraffin embedding gives the tissue a rigid, uniform block after infiltration, which is essential for cutting very thin, consistent sections. This rigidity makes it easy to obtain many consecutive slices from the same tissue, i.e., serial sections, so you can study different layers or perform multiple stains on adjacent sections. This continuity is especially valuable for comparing features across the tissue and for maximizing the information gained from a single specimen. Dehydration is still required before infiltration, so embedding doesn’t eliminate that step; the wax doesn’t prevent all cracking and isn’t about tissue growth.