What does the term "artifact" refer to in histology?

In histology, the term "artifact" refers specifically to distortions or changes in tissue structure that occur as a result of the processing, embedding, or staining procedures used to prepare tissue samples for examination. Artifacts can arise from various sources, such as improper fixation, dehydration, or embedding techniques, and they can distort the true morphology of the tissue.

For instance, when tissues are dehydrated in alcohol, they may lose endogenous water, leading to shrinkage or other alterations that do not represent the actual tissue's state in vivo. Staining processes can also introduce artifacts, which may misrepresent cellular structures or obscure important details. Recognizing artifacts is crucial for pathologists and histotechnicians to accurately interpret tissue samples.

Purely structural elements of a tissue, normal variations, and biological markers represent features or characteristics found in actual tissue and do not relate to the changes introduced during the histological preparation process. Understanding the distinction between artifacts and genuine histological features is essential for accurate diagnosis and research.