Diseases and Injuries
>> Tabular
Index
>> Alphabetic
Index
Procedures
>> Tabular
Index
>>
Alphabetic Index
Appendices
>> Drugs
/ Chemicals
>> External Causes
Other Resources
>> HCPCS Alpha
>> Medical
Dictionary
>> Drug Directory
Tips
Contribute
|
Freeze Etching
Etching, Freeze
A replica technique in which cells are frozen to a very low temperature and cracked with a knife blade to expose the interior surfaces of the cells or cell membranes. The cracked cell surfaces are then freeze-dried to expose their constituents. The surfaces are now ready for shadowing to be viewed using an electron microscope. This method differs from freeze-fracturing in that no cryoprotectant is used and, thus, allows for the sublimation of water during the freeze-drying process to etch the surfaces. |
|