How is a cytological smear different from a histological section?

A cytological smear is designed to examine individual cells rather than the overall architecture of tissue. This method involves spreading a thin layer of cells onto a slide for direct observation under a microscope, which allows examination of the morphological features of those individual cells. Pathologists can assess characteristics such as cell size, shape, nuclear features, and the presence of any abnormal features indicative of disease. This focus on individual cell details distinguishes cytology from histology, which examines tissue sections that retain the structural relationships between cells, thereby reflecting the tissue's architecture.

In contrast, histological sections involve cutting thin slices from a solid mass of tissue, preserving the relationship between cells and allowing for the assessment of tissue organization as well as cellular details. This method typically uses paraffin-embedded tissues rather than freshly excised cells. Additionally, histological sections do not require live cells; they can be obtained from fixed tissues, which are no longer viable but can still provide valuable information about cellular and tissue structure. This understanding of the fundamental differences between cytological smears and histological sections illustrates why the chosen answer is accurate.