Biology Lab 7 D ‫اول بصريات‬ ‫حسن عبد الهادي الجابري‬

Microscope: is an instrument used to see objects that are too small by the naked eye to show
the finer details of things in order to discover and study its composition.

Types of microscopes:

1. Compound light microscope

2. Electron microscope
A) Transmission electron microscope
B) Scanning electron microscope
3. Dark-field microscope
4. Phase-contrast microscope
5. Fluorescence microscope

Parts of the compound light microsecope

1- Eyepiece/Ocular: the lens through which the scientist looks (10X powers)
2- Body Tube: Connects eyepiece to microscope
3- Revolving Nosepiece: Holds 3-4 objectives lens, which 4X, 10X, 40X and 100X
powers
4- Arm: Supports the tube and connects it to the base
5- Stage: Platform upon which the slide place
6- Mechanical Stage: Movable clips that hold & move the slide by turning two knobs
7- Coarse adjustment knob: Moves stage up and down for small adjustment
8- Fine adjustment knob: used to fine-tune the focus of the specimen
9- Lamp: Light source needed for viewing the specimen
10- Iris Diaphragm: Transparent lens through which light travels. Regulate the amount of
light
11- Base: The base supports the microscope and it's where illuminator is located

1
 Biology Lab 7 D ‫اول بصريات‬ ‫حسن عبد الهادي الجابري‬

Q/ How to clean lens of microscope?

With lens paper moistured with zylole

How to focus the image?

1- Place the slide on the stage, held in place by the stage clip.
2- ALWAYS start with the 4X lens. Focus the image with the coarse focus.
3- Move to the 10X lens, focus.
4- NEVER use the coarse focus higher than 4X.
5- Repeat at the 40X lens, focus using the fine focus.
6- Place a small drop of oil on the slide in the center of the lighted area. Move to the
100X lens, fine focus.

Magnification of microscope formula

Magnification = magnification of ocular lens X magnification of objective lens

Characteristic Light or Optical Electron (Transmission)

Useful magnification 2,000 X 1,000,000 X or more
Maximum resolution 200 nm 0.5 nm
Image produced by Visible light rays Electron beam
Specimen may be alive Yes No
Specimen requires special stains Not always Yes
or treatment
Colored images produced Yes No

2
 Biology Lab 7 D ‫اول بصريات‬ ‫حسن عبد الهادي الجابري‬
Compound light Transmission electron Scanning electron Dark-field Phase contrast Fluorescence
Principle use a light beam to Electrons Electrons reflected a bright image enhances the uses ultraviolet
of work magnify the image transmitted through from the surface of of the object contrast light as its light
very thin slice of a specimen coated against a dark between source and
specimen that with a thin layer of background intracellular specimens usually
staineded with metal black and structures stained with
palladium and gold. white image of having slight fluorochromes
Denser regions in specimen's surface differences in
specimen scatter features. It can refractive index
more electrons and magnify up to
appear darker 100,000x
Use to individual cells, to observe very small objects stained: to observe Living, to help identify
even living ones viruses, DNA, parts of cells living, unstained unstained unknown bacteria
preparations organisms such
such as live as
spirochetes mitochondria,
those cause lysosomes, and
syphilis the Golgi body
Features - 2- dimensional - 2- dimensional - 3- dimensional
- Magnify up to - Magnify up to - Magnify up to
2000X 250,000X. 100,000X.
- high - black and white
magnification image of
- low resolution specimen