What is the name of the agent employed in tissue preparation that maintains the existing form and structure?

The agent employed in tissue preparation that maintains the existing form and structure is known as a fixative. Fixatives serve a crucial role in the preservation of biological tissues, primarily by cross-linking proteins and other cellular components. This process helps to stabilize the tissue architecture, preventing decay and autolysis, which must be controlled to retain the original appearance before further processing or examination.

The fixation process is essential for ensuring that tissues can withstand various procedures that follow, such as embedding, sectioning for microscopy, or other forms of analysis while retaining the integrity and structure necessary for study. Fixatives can include a variety of chemical agents, with formaldehyde being one of the most common used in mortuary science.

The other choices represent different concepts in the context of tissue management. Modifying agents are typically used to alter tissue features or properties, cavity preservatives are designed specifically for the preservation of internal cavities post-embalming, and embalming fluid refers to the overall solution used to disinfect and preserve human remains, but does not specifically denote the agent focused on maintaining tissue structure in preparation processes.