What is a common reason for sections to adhere to the knife or other parts of the machine?

The successful sectioning of tissue samples in histopathology heavily relies on the management of static electricity. When tissue sections are cut from a block, especially if they are thin, static can build up and cause the sections to cling to the knife or other components of the microtome. This adhesion can disrupt the uniformity and quality of the sections, making them difficult to collect and mount on slides.

Static electricity is particularly problematic when working with certain types of tissue or during dry conditions, where humidity levels are low. Increases in static can lead to sections sticking not only to the knife but also to each other, making it challenging to produce clean, independent layers required for accurate microscopic examination.

Other factors like insufficient cooling can contribute to difficulties in sectioning, but they typically influence the overall quality and integrity of the tissues during cutting rather than causing a direct adhesion issue. Poor quality knife and excessive thickness can affect the ease of cutting and the final appearance of sections, but they do not directly relate to the section adherence problem as strongly as static electricity does.