Evan McKenzie, a PhD student in Phil Matthews lab (Dept of Zoology) studies the structure of hydrostatic organs (air sacs) in aquatic insects.  The insect tissues are embedded in resin and sectioned with the Leica UC7 ultramicrotome for TEM analysis. Evan uses a small camera mounted right next to the sample block (left image) so he can rotate or change the orientation of the sample block and get transverse and longitudinal sections of air sacs and their endothelium while monitoring his position in the sample. The right image shows the side view of the sample block.

The video clips below show the close look of sectioning in action!  The top video shows the side view of the sample block, the edge of the glass knife and water in the boat. The sample block moves up and down. In every stroke, the sample block moves towards the knife and cuts a thin section. A thin section comes out from the knife edge and float on the water in the boat (top). The bottom video clip indicates a side view of the embedded tissues in the block and you can determine which part of the tissue has been cut and will be cut. The scattering and reflection of light make it hard to see sections in the bottom video.