What is the primary purpose of embedding in histopathology?

The primary purpose of embedding in histopathology is to stabilize tissue for sectioning. During the embedding process, tissues are surrounded by a solid medium, typically paraffin wax, which solidifies and provides support to the tissue architecture. This stabilization is critical as it allows for precise slicing of thin sections, which can then be mounted on slides for microscopic examination.

Proper embedding ensures that the delicate cellular structures are maintained intact during the cutting process, preventing distortion or tearing that could compromise the evaluation of the samples. The quality of the sections obtained directly influences the accuracy of diagnostic evaluations and the ability to identify pathological changes in the tissue.

Other options, while involving aspects of histopathology, do not represent the main goal of embedding. Making tissue transparent, enhancing color during staining, and removing lipids are not primary functions of embedding and address different processes in tissue preparation or analysis.