ACTIVITY 1: BASIC MICROSCOPY AND ITS USE IN HISTOLOGY

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
1. Explain the significance of each part of PARTS OF THE MICROSCOPE
the microscope
2. Describe how each observation
procedure is done correctly
3. Demonstrate efficiently and effectively
the proper way of handling and
manipulating the microscope.

MICROSCOPE

➔ Anton van leeuwenhoek

➔ “Mikros” and skopein” w/c means “small”
and “to look”
➔ An instrument used to see objects that are too
small for the naked eye
➔ Shape, size, position, connections, colors,
number, texture, and even chemical
composition.
➔ Principle: microscopy is to get a magnified
image, in w/c structures may be resolved w/c
could not be resolved w/ the help of an
unaided eye.

TERMS:
● MAGNIFICATION - it is the ratio of the size of
the object seen under a microscope to the
actual size observed w/ unaided eye
- How much larger an object appears
under objective lenses that it actually is.
- Ocular lenses has the average ocular
magnify of 10x, used to make the
organisms much visible
● RESOLUTION - it is the ability to distinguish
two objects from each other
- All about the details, combination of
the magnification and the resolution
to clearly see the object under the
microscope. 3 MAJOR PARTS:
● DEPTH OF FIELD - it is the distance through 1. HEAD - carries the optical parts on the
w/c you can move the specimen and still upper part of the microscope.
have it in focus. 2. ARM - the part that connects the head and
the base. The part where we can hold the
microscope from one place to another.
3. BASE - acts as the support of the
microscope and carries the illuminators or
the light source of the microscope.
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 OPTICAL PARTS OF THE MICROSCOPE
1. OCULAR LENS (EYEPIECE) - standard
magnification power: 10x
2. DIOPTER ADJUSTMENT - a portion where
we can move to adjust and have a clearer
magnification power or clearer view on our
specimen
3. OBJECTIVE LENSES -
1.) SCANNER -
2.) LOW POWER OBJECTIVE/ LPO -
3.) HIGH POWER OBJECTIVE
4.) OIL POWER IMMERSION -
★ Each lens has its own magnification power
❖ NOSEPIECE/REVOLVING NOSE - The once
holding the objective lenses.
❖ ADJUSTMENT KNOBS
1. COARSE ADJUSTMENT KNOB - bigger
movement, to move the microscope up
and down. Should only be used with the
lowest power objective lens. (fast)
2. FINE ADJUSTMENT KNOB - smaller
movement
- A slow but precise control used. Focus
on higher magnification
❖ STAGE - is the section in w/c the specimen is
place for viewing
- There is a stage clip - it holds the
specimen slides in place
- Stage control - can move the stage to
side, left or right and up and down.
- Aperture - found in the middle of the
stage. A hole in the microscope stage
through w/c the transmitted light from
the illuminator will reach the stage.
❖ LIGHT SOURCE - located at the base and it
is used instead of a mirror since this is
powered by electricity. It captures the light
from the external source or the voltage to
give light to have focused onto our specimen.
❖ CONDENSER - found under the stage next
to the diaphragm. The major role of this is
to ensure clear sharp images and w/out the
condenser the image will not be as sharp as
what we are going to observe under the
microscope.
❖ DIAPHRAGM - found under the microscope
in the middle of aperture and condenser.
And the primary role is to control the
amount of light from our illuminator and
that will pass through our specimen.
★ Those are the major parts of the microscope.
HANDLING AND STORAGE PRECAUTIONS
● CARRYING: always carry your microscope
w/ two hands, one grasping the arm or back
slot and the other supporting the base.
● TABLE PLACEMENT: set the microscope
on a flat, solid support and in a position
where it will not easily be knocked off. Coil the
cord to avoid tripping over it.
● CLEANING: lenses must be clean for
resolution. Use only lens paper or gauze and
cleaning solution. Never use your finger,
handkerchief, paper towels or spit to clean
the lenses. Do not remove any parts for
cleaning; it only allows dust to enter the
microscope.
● PUTTING AWAY:
➢ Turn off light and center mechanical
stage
➢ Position the nosepiece so that the
lowest scanning (4x) objective in place
➢ Remove the slide from the stage and
put it in the proper place
➢ Clean the stage and lenses with gauze
and lens cleaner and wipe off any oil.
➢ Wrap the cord around the arm.
➢ CAREFULLY carry w/ two hands and
GENTLY place the microscope in the
proper cabinet.
★ Each of the microscope has its own cabinet for
us to ensure that it is safe
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