PARTS AND FUNCTION

MICROSCOPE
 LEARNING OUTCOMES
Identify the parts and
functions of the 01
microscope;

Perform and manipulate

parts of the microscope
02

Cite the other types of

microscopes used in scientific 03
investigations today;
1590
HISTORY 1675
Enter Anton van Leeuwenhoek,
who used a microscope with one
lens to observe insects and other
Two Dutch spectacle-makers and
specimens. Leeuwenhoek was the
father-and-son team, Hans and
first to observe bacteria.
Zacharias Janssen, create the first
microscope.
1938
1667 Ernst Ruska realized that using
Robert Hooke's famous electrons in microscopy
"Micrographia" is published, enhanced resolution & invented
which outlines Hooke's various the first electron microscope.
studies using the microscope.

3-D specimen images possible with the invention of the scanning

1981 tunneling microscope by Gerd Binnig and Heinrich Rohrer.
GENERAL TYPES OF MICROSCOPE
SIMPLE
Have only one lens and just like a
magnifying glass that consists of
one double convex lens and
having short focal length. This can
magnify an object up to 2,000
times.

COMPOUND
Have ocular lens and objective
lens and made up of system of
lenses that can invert images.
MECHANICAL
PARTS
● Stand /Base – A horse-shoe shaped iron
portion that supports the entire microscope.
● Pillar – Short connection between the base and
the microscope.
● Inclination Joint – location between the pillar
and the arm for titling the upper part of the
microscope to a desired position.
● Substage – located immediately below the
stage containing the iris diaphragm and
condenser.
● Stage – Platform with an opening to let the
light pass and where the slide with the
specimen is placed.
● Arm or Handle – connects the base with the
body tube
● Stage Clips – Keep the glass slide in place.
● Fine Adjustment Knob – smaller wheel to see
the finer detail of the object for precise
focusing.
● Coarse Adjustment Knob – Large wheel used
along with LPO for rough focus of the
specimen.
● Revolving Nosepiece – below the draw tube for
attachment and shifting of objectives.
● Dust Shield - black metallic disk above the
revolving nosepiece to prevent dust entering
the objectives.
● Body Tube – Supports the objective and the
ocular.
● Draw Tube – a place where the eyepiece or
ocular is inserted.
ILLUMINATING
PARTS
● Mirror – used to focus the rays of the light
source from the sun toward the object.
● Light Bulb – used as artificial source of rays
of light toward the object.
● Abbe Condenser – used to further control or
concentrate the light from the source.
● Iris Diaphragm – regulates the amount of
light passing through the condenser.
MAGNIFYING
PARTS
● Eyepiece – fits into the draw tube
The lens the viewer looks through to
see the specimen. It usually contains a
10X or 15X power lens.
● Objectives – small tubes containing
lenses attached to the nosepiece which
magnify the object or the specimen.
MAGNIFYING
POWER
● Low Power Objectives (LPO) – shorter
tube; marked 10x which is the lowest
ocular magnification.
● High Power Objective (HPO) – longer
tube; marked 45x or 43x and 40x
sometimes
● Oil Immersion Objective (OIO) – same
length as the HPO; marked 97x or 100x
- a special oil is placed to an object being
studied.
PROPER
HANDLING
• ALWAYS CARRY A
MICROSCOPE WITH TWO
HANDS.
• ONE UNDER THE BASE AND
ONE HOLDING THE ARM OF
THE MICROSCOPE.
• Orient the microscope so the
stage is facing you, not the
microscope arm.
• Turn/twist the eyepiece
around so it is angled toward
you.
• The focus knobs will be on
your right.
• Turn on the light or adjust the
mirror for light to reflect in
the condenser
• Rotate the nosepiece to put
the scanning power objective
lens in place, centered over
the hole in the stage.
• The shortest lens; the lowest
magnification power.

Total magnification =
eyepiece lens x objective lens
• Place the glass slide under the
stage clips, and center the
specimen.
• Visually place the “specimen”
on the slide over the small
circle on the stage where light
shines through.
• Look through the eyepiece.
Use the coarse adjustment
knob to move the stage and
bring the “specimen” into
focus.
• The diaphragm under the
stage adjusts the amount of
light coming through.
• Turn the nosepiece to center the
low power objective over the
slide. It must “click” into place.
• Use the fine focus adjustment
knob to bring the specimen into
focus. If directed, when you go
to high power, only use the fine
focus adjustment!
• If the specimen goes out of focus,
back up to low power or even
scanning power and start again.
• Make a “wet mount” 1-2 drops of
water or stain put over the
specimen.
• Put the coverslip down at a 45°
angle and slowly lay it down.
• Wick away any excess liquid.