BUTUAN DOCTORS’ COLLEGE

Butuan City

Name: _______________________________ Remark: _________

Program, level and section: _______________

Laboratory Worksheet No. 1

THE MONOCULAR COMPOUND MICROSCOPE

OBJECTIVES: At the end of the activity, the students shall be able to:
1. Comprehend the use of the microscope in the study of the human body;
2. Appreciate the parts of the microscope and their corresponding functions; and
3. Describe the proper way of carrying the microscope and to how properly
handle it

INTRODUCTION:

Because of the limitations of our senses, many things we would like to find out about living
organisms can be discovered only by making use of the microscope which makes it possible to
observe object so small that they are invisible to our unaided eyes.

There are many different kinds of microscope. The type most commonly used in the Biology
laboratory is the monocular compound microscope. In working with this kind of microscope we use
only one eye so we see an image having length and width but little apparent depth. Ordinarily the
objects are examined with this type of microscope must be sit or so small or thin that light will pass
through them. The observers are able to distinguish form structure in such objects because some
parts of them absorb more light than others. Things seen in this way under the microscope are said to
be observed by transmitted light.

Types of Microscope:

The dissecting microscope is used for examination of gross specimen and for dissecting under
low power, some compound microscope magnify about 2,000 times. Other types of microscope which
are complicated and expensive have much greater magnifying power. The ultraviolet microscope
magnifies up to 10,000 times while the electron microscope up to more than 60,000 times.

Binocular compound microscope, has two oculars, one for each eye of the observer. In this
type, the centers of the lenses of the two oculars are adjusted with the centers of the viewer’s eyes
until both eyes see only one field.

Another type of microscope which utilizes the refraction of light is the phase microscope. It is
especially important in the study of the living cells.

Electron microscope uses magnetic or electrostatic fields as lenses, the image results from a
scattering of electrons by atoms in the specimen. This type can magnify an image several hundred
thousand times the actual size of very minutes object which cannot be perceived even by the most
powerful lenses of an optical microscope.

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B. Parts of a Microscope:

a. Mechanical Parts – these consists of certain precise parts chiefly of metal to support
and adjust the optical parts.

1. Base – heavy, Y shaped foot in which the microscope stands.

2. Pillar – short supporting piece arising from the base where the arm is attached.
3. Arm - short curved handle that connects the base and the body tube and is used
in carrying the microscope.
4. Inclination Joint – a movable hinge between the pillar and arms and is used to tilt
the upper parts whenever necessary.
5. Body Tube – is a hollow cylinder attached to the arm: bears the lower lenses;
serves as attachment of the drawtube onto the microscope as well as passageway
of light from the objective to the ocular.
6. Draw tube – smaller cylinder that is attached to the upper portion of the body tube
which bears the ocular or eyepiece. This can be moved upward or downward to
adjust the tube length or distance between the lenses of the ocular and the
objective.
7. Rotating nosepiece (revolving nosepiece) – revolving structure at the lower end of
the body which bears the lower lenses. This facilitates shifting of objectives. This
is protected by a fixed dust shield that keeps off the dust from the objective lenses,
8. Dust shields – metallic structure above the nosepiece which protects the lower
lenses.
9. Coarse adjustment screws or knobs - geared to the body tube use to bring the
object into focus; uppermost and larger knobs used to raise and lower optical
system in preparation for focusing when using the low power objective. (Caution:
Never use this when focusing with the high power objective or any higher power
objective.)
10. Fine adjustment screws – lower smaller knob below the coarse adjustment screw
used for slow or little movement of the body tube when focusing the high power
objective and for more delicate focusing.
11. Stage – platform with central aperture for light to pass through and two stage clips
to hold the slide being studied. Some microscopes are provided with a mechanical
stage which
12. Mechanical stage – mechanism attached to the stage for ease in moving the slide
or moves the specimen by screw movement either forward, backward or sideward.
13. Stage clips – keep the slide in place for clear focusing; prevent the slide from being
dislodge.

b. Optical Parts – these consists principally of special types of carefully ground and
polished glasses aligned on an optical axis for the enlargement of the image of the object
under study.

1. Mirror –found below the stage with concave and flat surfaces to gather and direct
the light to illuminate the object.
2. Iris diaphragm –found below the mirror consisting of several metal blades;
regulate or control the amount of light reaching the object.
3. Condenser – found immediately beneath the stage; serves further to concentrate
the light rays of the specimen.
4. Low Power objective - shorter lens screwed to the rotating nosepiece serves to
form the image of the object within the body tube.
5. High power objective – lower lens screwed to the rotating nosepiece; serves to
form a bigger image of the object, within a body tube.

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 6. Scanner – the shortest of the three objectives; use for general viewing of the
specimen studied.
7. Ocular / eyepiece- found in the draw tube for further magnification of the image.

C. How to Care the Microscope?

The Microscope, like all other instrument in the laboratory, must be given proper
care.
1. It should always be carried in an upright position
2. With one hand firmly grasping the arm and the other hand supporting it under the
base.
3. If it is necessary to tilt the instrument, use the inclination joint, and always return
the microscope to its untitled position at the conclusion or end of your work.
4. At the end of the period, turn the revolving nosepiece until the low power
objective is in place. Adjust the position in approximately 1 cm. above the stage
5. Position the stage clips so that they do not extend beyond the side of the stage.
Return the microscope to the proper storage space. Clean all slides and cover
slip.

D. Precautionary Measures: The following precaution should always be taken to keep

microscope in good condition.
1. Handle set with greatest care. When taking it from or returning it to the case always
carry it with two hands. Never carry anything else when you are carrying a
microscope.
2. Before using a microscope ascertain if all its parts are present and no part is
broken. Report any missing or broken part to your instructor immediately. If these
defects are reported to your instructor soon after you have used the microscope,
it will be taken for granted that you are responsible for the loss or breakage.
3. Keep your lenses clean. In cleaning them use lens paper only. Never use your
fingers or handkerchief, as many coarse cleaner is liable to scratch and destroy
the lenses.
4. Do not allow the water to set on stage from temporary mounts. If the stand gets
wet, it will become rusty. Moreover, you cannot move the slide on a wet surface.
When using temporary mounts, never tilt the microscope. Be sure that the
underside and edge of your slide are dry.
5. Do not allow any chemical acid or alkaline or stain to come in contact with the
lenses.
6. When the microscope is used in an upright position do not use clips as they prevent
you from moving your slide. It is necessary to move the slides especially when
studying living microscope organisms.
7. Position the slide with an area to be examined under low power in the center of the
field of vision. Shift to the high power objective and if an adjustment in focusing is
necessary, do so with the fine adjustment screw.
8. Do not move the pointer.

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PROCEDURE:
Refer to any Human Anatomy and Physiology book or surf from the Internet or
access https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrZxPVmhZzM and provide the following
questions with satisfactory answers.
1. As a student in health-related program, the microscope serves numerous uses
especially in the Clinical Laboratory. Describe two uses of this instrument.
The microscope are used to view the cellular structures of organs, germs, and bacteria inside our body
a. ______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
IIt is used to magnify small objects and cells which are impossible to see in the naked eye.
b. ______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

2. Shown below is an image of a microscope. Label all the parts using capital letters
provided with a leader line.

BASE

3. In the table shown below, provide the parts of the microscope with brief and
principal function/s.
Parts Function/s
1. Mirror

2. Arm

3. Iris diaphragm

4. Dust shield

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 5. Fine adjustment screws

6. Scanner

7. Stage Clips

8. High power objective

9. Inclination joint

10. Revolving nosepiece

11. Coarse adjustment

knob
12. Eyepiece

4. Describe the proper way of carrying the microscope when being transferred from
the cabinet / case to the table or from one place to another.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

5. State the precautionary measures when using the microscope in the following
conditions:
a. when viewing temporary mounts or wet specimens _____________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
b. when cleaning the lenses or the optical parts __________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

6. The image of the specimen understudy is inverted when viewed under the
microscope. Discuss briefly the reason. ________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

7. When to use and when not to use a tilted position of the microscope? _________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

END
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