GENERAL

BIOLOGY
MICROSCOPY 101
MICROSCOPE
PARTS OF A MICROSCOPE
 MECHANICAL PARTS
• ARM
• BASE
• STAGE
• STAGE CLIPS
• NOSEPIECE
• BODY TUBE
• COARSE ADJUSTMENT
• FINE ADJUSTMENT
• LIGHT SOURCE
• IRIS DIAPHRAGM
• DRAW TUBE
 ARM

It serves to support
the body tube.
BASE

Provides firm and

steady support to the
entire microscope.
 STAGE
It is where the slide is placed.

It has a hole so that light can

shine trough the specimen.

Always place the specimen at

the center of the hole.
STAGE CLIPS

Hold the specimen

firmly on stage.
NOSEPIECE

It is the revolving part to which the

objectives are attached. It is necessary
to firmly click it into position when the
objective is changed.
DRAW TUBE

A small cylinder attached to the upper

part of the body tube that holds the
ocular.
 BODY TUBE

Connects the
nosepiece to the
ocular lens.
COARSE
ADJUSTMENT
Moves the body tube or
stage in an upward or
downward direction.

Used only with low-

power or scanning
objectives
FINE ADJUSTMENT

Moves either the body

tube or stage in an
upward or downward
direction to properly
position the specimen.
LIGHT SOURCE

Small electric light

beneath the stage.
IRIS DIAPHRAGM

Regulates how
much light and lamp
heat pass through
the specimen.
 MAGNIFYING PARTS
•OCULAR LENS
•OBJECTIVE LENSES
OCULAR LENS
A detachable cylinder
located at the upper end
of the tube. It may have a
line inside that serves as
a pointer. It rotates when
the ocular lens is rotated.

Magnify up to 10x
OBJECTIVE LENSES
LOW POWER OBJECTIVE- can provide 10x
magnifying power

HIGH POWER OBJECTIVE- gives a large

image of up to 40x.

OIL IMMERSION- gives the largest image up to

100x.
LPO-HPO-
OIO
 ILLUMINATING PARTS
•CONDENSER
•MIRROR
CONDENSER
A lens locate above the
diaphragm. It concentrates
light before passing
through the specimen.
Knobs are provided to
adjust its position.
MIRROR
Found below the stage
near the base. It is used
to collect light and
direct it to the object
and then reflect it to
the eyes.