What is the third step of tissue processing and what is its purpose?

Study for the CAMLPR Histology Practice Test. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Wax infiltration with paraffin replaces the clearing agent and embeds the tissue in a solid medium. After dehydration, the tissue is made miscible with paraffin by clearing with xylene; then molten paraffin permeates the tissue, displacing the clearing agent. This embedding medium hardens on cooling, providing the rigidity and support needed for thin, precise sections and for subsequent mounting and staining.