Even though you see the slides in two dimensions, keep in mind it's really a three dimensional world.

• By studying the structures cut in different planes of section, one can mentally reconstruct their 3-dimensional appearance and make accurate morphological interpretation of the structures.
• Elucidation of the complicated internal organization of certain complex organs and structures of the body requires the preparation of consecutive (serial) sections.

Common orientation of a tissue sections.

 

Longitudinal section: a cut that is parallel to the longest dimension of the organ or specimen.		Oblique section: a cut that is at any angle between the longitudinal and transverse planes.
Cross, or transverse, section: a cut that is perpendicular to the main plane of the organ or specimen		Tangential section: a section that only grazes the surface of a spherical structure.