On the possibilities of the application of scanning electron microscopy in the forensic medicine.

The aim of the paper is to provide pertinent, information about scanning electron microscopy (SEM), with a detailed survey on the great possibilities of SEM which is becoming increasingly important in research and practical work of forensic medicine. The electronoptical characteristics of the method are discussed and the basic preparation methods to be selected are described. The areas of forensic medicine where these methods have already been used, as well as the results obtained, are briefly surveyed. The present state of affairs as well as personal experiences with hairs, bones, muscle and skin are described in detail. The experience with the critical point drying method is described. This method according to the reviewers, is very useful for work with hairs, bones, nails and sometimes with skin although the preparation may result in secondary destructions of the tissues of high water content to such an extent that the evaluation will be interfered with or becomes impossible. Further possibilities of these perspectivic methods are under research. The discussion of the physiological data is preceded by a historical description of the SEM and TEM systems and the basic principles of its function, which should facilitate reading of the text.