Microtome

A microtome is a tool used to cut extremely thin slices of material, known as sections. Important in science, microtomes are used in microscopy, allowing for the preparation of samples for observation under transmitted light or electron radiation. Microtomes use steel, glass, or diamond blades depending upon the specimen being sliced and the desired thickness of the sections being cut.  Microtome sections can be made thin enough to section a human hair across its breadth, with section thickness between 50 nm and 100 µm.

Cryostat

Cryostat is used in medicine to cut histological slides. It is usually used in a process called frozen section histology. The cryostat is essentially an ultrafine "deli-slicer", called a microtome, placed in a freezer. The cryostat is usually a stationary upright freezer, with an external wheel for rotating the microtome. The temperature can be varied, depending on the tissue being cut - usually from minus 20 to minus 30 degree Celsius. Tissue are sectioned as thin as 1 micrometer. Usual histology slides are mounted with a thickness of about 7 micrometers.