Parts of a Microscope and Their Functions

What are Microscopes?

A microscope is a laboratory optical instrument, which is used to examine or study or see
objects that are too small to be seen by the naked eye.
In the laboratory, Microscopes are used to visualize minute
objects, for example; plant cell, animal cell, bacteria, fungi, etc.
Microscopes consist of different types and numbers of magnifying
lenses. All microscopes of high grade have achromatic,
parcentered, parfocal lenses.
A Microscopes are made up of two parts, the holding part which
supports the microscopes and its components, and the optical
part which is used for magnification and viewing of the specimen
images. They contain 2 systems of lenses, one is eyepiece and the
other is one or more objective lenses.
 General Working Principle of Microscopes
In a microscope, light rays first passed through the specimen and then
is transmitted through two sets of lenses, the objective, which is
nearest to the specimen, and the eyepiece, which is further away from
the specimen.

The magnified image of the specimen is first produced by the objective.

This is known as the primary image. The eyepiece then magnifies the
primary image into the final one that is seen by the observer. The
total magnification obtainable by the microscopes is the product of the
magnification of the objective and that of the eyepiece.

Objective Eyepiece
Total magnification
magnification magnification

10X 10X 100X

40X 10X 400X
100X 10X 1000X
 Applications of Microscopes

1. To study protein interaction or protein conformation.

2. To Study the membrane dynamics.

3. To study the concentration of calcium ion and pH changes.

4. To Determine the shape of cells and intercellular structure.

5. To determine the localization of specific proteins.

6. To Study the Dynamics of protein.

7. To study the iron concentration.

8. Microscopes also used in forensic laboratories.

9. Used in counting of blood cells.

 Parts of a Microscope
The microscope parts are divided into two main categories, such as;
1. Structural parts of microscope
2. Optical parts of microscope

Structural parts of a microscope Optical parts of a microscope

The optical part of the Microscope plays an
The structural parts of microscope provide
important role to magnify the object. It
supports and connecting all the components
consists of the following components;
of microscope. There are present three
important structural parts of microscope 1. Eyepiece
such as; 2. Eyepiece tube
3. Nosepiece
1. Head 4. Microscope Objective lenses
2. Arm 5. The Adjustment knobs
3. Base 6. Stage
7. Stage clips
8. Aperture
9. Microscopic illuminator
10.Condenser
11.Diaphragm
 Structural parts of a microscope
1. Head
2. Arm
3. Base
• The bottom portion of Microscopes on
which the arm portion is standing. It
holds all the essential components.
• The Base portion provides support to the
microscope.
• It is located at the upper portion of
microscope. The head portion of
microscope is also known as the Body
tube.
• The head portion or body tube of
microscope connects the eyepiece to the
objective lenses.
• It refers to the holding portion of a
microscope, which is used to carry the
microscopes.
• Few high-quality microscopes contain an
articulated arm with more than one joint
allowing more movement of the
microscopic head for better viewing.
• The arm Supports the head or body tube
and connects it to the base of the
microscopes.
1. Eyepiece Optical parts of a microscope
2. Eyepiece tube

3. Nosepiece

4. Objective lenses

5. Adjustment knobs

6. Stage clips

7. Aperture

8. Microscopic illuminator

9. Condenser

10. Diaphragm

11. The rack stop

Thank You