Types of Microscope

Light Microscope
Electron Microscope
Stereo Microscope
Inverted Microscope
Fluorescence Microscope
Polarized Microscope
Recommended procedure for microscopic observation
• Step 1: Place the slide on the stage of the microscope so the specimen faces
the objective lens. Secure the slide with the stage clips and move it to the
optical axis.
• Step 2: Set the light control (condenser is in a low position; iris is open, use
filter if needed). Always start with the low power (shortest) objective. Move
the stage to the upper position, under the objective.
• Step 3: Look through the eyepieces, use the coarse focus knob to lower the
stage until the image of a specimen is visible, and then fine focus knob for
accurate focusing. Change the magnification by rotating the objectives on
the rotating turret and adjust position of the condenser (move upper). For
accurate focusing, use the fine knob.
Orientation in the microscopic view

• quadrants – the optical field is divided clockwise into four quadrants I. – IV.
• concentric circles – central, pericentric and peripheral circle
• according to clock face
 Types of slide preparations
• impression preparations – a new clean slide is slightly
pressed on the surface of the examined tissue and
attached cells are observed (e.g. cells of liver or brain)
• smears – e.g. a small drop of suspension containing cells is
placed near an end of a slide and is spread across the slide
by the edge of another slide (e.g. blood smear)
• covered slides containing cell suspension or processed
histology tissue covered by cover slip.
• Native slides are used to observe physiological
manifestations of cell (e.g. movement, cell
division, particles ingestion etc.) or its typical
shape.
• Permanent slides allow detailed observation of
cell morphology. The preparation of permanent
slides consists from fixation and following
staining of cells or tissue slices.
• Fixation terminates any ongoing living and autolytic biochemical
processes in cells.
• Physical fixation- used mostly for smears and touch preparations,
biological sample is heated and dried at laboratory temperature or
above a burner flame.
• Chemical fixation requires a liquid chemical fixative (e.g. formol,
methanol, ethanol etc.).
• Fixation is followed by staining in different types of solutions which is
based on affinity interactions between cell structures and stain
components. They are informative (e.g. Nile Blue) or specific stains
(e.g. Giemsa stain for chromatin visualization). Some dyes have both
fixative and staining effect (e.g. Lugol’s solution, orcein).