What is paraffin embedding primarily used for in histopathology?

Paraffin embedding serves the crucial purpose of creating thin tissue sections suitable for microscopic examination. The process involves infiltrating tissue specimens with melted paraffin wax, which solidifies upon cooling. This solidified matrix provides structural support, allowing for exceptionally thin slices of tissue to be cut using a microtome. These thin sections are necessary for detailed histological analysis, enabling pathologists to observe cellular structures and tissue architecture under a microscope.

While enhancing tissue staining, preserving antigens, and removing excess lipids are important aspects of histopathological techniques, they are not the primary function of paraffin embedding. For instance, staining depends on various other preparations and reagents, and while certain processing steps can help preserve antigens, they do not primarily revolve around the paraffin embedding technique. In the case of lipids, while paraffin embedding can indeed lead to their removal due to the solvent used in the process, this is not its main aim. The focus of paraffin embedding is fundamentally about facilitating the creation of the precise, thin slices necessary for effective histopathological examination.