What does the term "coarse trimming" refer to in histopathology?

The term "coarse trimming" in histopathology specifically refers to the initial rough trimming of tissue specimens. This step is crucial as it prepares the specimen for subsequent processing. During coarse trimming, larger sections of tissue are cut away to standardize the size and shape for optimal embedding in paraffin or other media. This ensures that the tissue can be adequately infiltrated and allows for effective sectioning later on.

In the context of preparing histological samples, coarse trimming contrasts with finer techniques involving detail-oriented shaping or final presentation adjustments. The goal of this initial step is to efficiently modify the tissue specimen without focusing on detail, as finer trimming and precise adjustments are reserved for later stages in the histological preparation process.