What Do Abbreviations Like W.M, L.S, & C.S Mean for Microscope Slides?

›Knowledge›What Do Abbreviations Like W.M, L.S, & C.S Mean for Microscope Slides?

›April 10, 2020

Confused About the Microscope Slides Abbreviations?

If you are reading this, we guess you are. Just like we were when we brought our LCD Digital Microscope, and when we bought some additional Prepared Slides.

We noticed on the prepared slides there was an abbreviation after the description. EG: Tilia Stem C.S. What did the CS mean? So, we decided to do some research, and add the abbreviations here as a reference for others who are not sure what the microscope slide abbreviations are.

Common Microscope Slide Abbreviation List

Here are the microscope slide abbreviations that we think are the most common.

WM (W.M.)
Whole Mount (Entire Specimen or Organism)

LS (L.S.)
Longitudinal Section. A section cut lengthwise. Cut parallel to the longitudinal axis.

CS (C.S.)
Cross-Section. Such as a thin wafer of an Earthworm. Cut perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

TS (T.S.)
Transverse. An alternative name for cross-section.

Additional Microscope Slide Abbreviations

In addition to the slide abbreviations above, we found others that are also used.

ST (S.T.)
Stained Preparation.

SQ (S.Q.)
Squashed Preparation.

SM (S.M.)
Smear Preparation. Such as a smear of blood.

MED or M
Middle. Cut through the middle.

SEC
Section.

User Comment

thanks! this is very helpful.

Brian

Much appreciated. I have a few slides from China with "VS" and "VLS" abbreviations. They are human histological. Anybody know what the two abbreviations mean? All the others, like LS and TS are standard.

Pat

Thanks! I got my new microscope yesterday ans started looking at the preparred slide I bought at the same time and had exactly that question!

Pat

Nishita

Thanks it helped me a lottt:)