Practical 1: Investigating the structure, functions and care of a compound light

microscope

Objective: To study the structure, functions and care of a compound light microscope

Purpose: To determine the proper ways of conducting an experiment using a compound

light microscope

Introduction: The first microscope to be developed was the optical microscope, although
the original inventor is not easy to identify. An early microscope was made in 1590 in ,
Middelburg . Two eyeglass makers are variously given credit: Hans Lippershey and Hans
Janssen. Giovanni Faber coined the name microscope for Galileo Galilei's compound
microscope in 1625

Materials/ Apparatus: lens paper, glass cover slips, oil immersion, human blood smear
specimen, rabbit's heart specimen, artery and vein specimen, aorta specimen, compound
microscope

Methodology:
1. The provided specimen is placed on the stage of the microscope and the low
power objective lens are selected. (4X)
2. The lenses are raised using the coarse focus knob until you see the image come
into focus and then go out again, then focus back until you find center focus. The
fine focus knob is used when the specimen was near the objective lens.
3. The image is centered and the light is adjusted using the diaphragm.
4. The objective lens are now switched to the highest power objective lens (40x).
The fine focus is read and light (diaphragm) as needed. Before the observation, oil
are added to the specimen as a buffer.

After use of microscope, ensure

1. The respective lenses are cleaned up using lens solution.
2. Glass slides and cover slips are cleaned.
3. The compound light microscope is covered with plastic to avoid contact with dust
and dirt.
Discussion:
Eyepiece:
the lens you look through, magnifies the specimen
Base:
supports the microscope
Nosepiece:
holds objective lenses
High and Low Power Objective Lens:
magnify the specimen
Arm:
supports upper parts of the microscope, used to carry the microscope
Fine Focus Knob:
used to focus when using the high power objective
Stage:
where the slide is placed
Diaphragm:
regulates the amount of light reaching the objective lens
Course Focus Knob:
used to focus when using the low power objective
Light Source:
provides light
Stage Clips:
hold slide in place on the stage

Conclusion: the microscope should be handle carefully while oil immersion was using
during large magnification as a buffer. The structure of a cell such as cell membrane and
nucleus can be observe through the microscope.