What does an "artifact" represent in the context of histology?

An artifact in histology refers to features that appear in tissue samples as a result of the preparation process rather than being inherent characteristics of the actual tissue. These artifacts can include air bubbles, folds, or staining irregularities within the histological sections, which can obscure or misrepresent the true morphology of the tissue being studied. Understanding artifacts is crucial, as they can lead to misinterpretation of histological findings and affect diagnostic decisions.

Healthy tissue structures, while important to identify in histology, do not represent artifacts since they are genuine components of the sample. Decorative features on the slides may refer to visual enhancements or labeling but do not pertain to the definition of an artifact, which focuses on unintentional alterations during processing. Improperly processed cell samples may contribute to artifacts, but the term itself specifically encompasses the unintended changes observed once the sample is prepared and stained.