The
Microscope
PREPARED BY: LADY JANE MORILLA
The microscope has become one of the
most recognizable symbols of science.
Starting with use of a simple lens in ancient times, to the first
compound microscope around 1590, and up to the
microscopes you are using, the microscope has allowed
scientists to make discoveries about the “invisible world.”
Micro- = “small”; -scope = “to look at”
Photographs of cells are taken using a microscope,
and these pictures are called micrographs.
MICROSCOPE
A microscope is an optical instrument that
magnifies small objects, allowing them to be
seen in greater detail than is possible with the
naked eye.
Uses of Microscope in Different Fields
Biology Material Science
Examining cells, tissues, and Studying the microstructure of
microorganisms to study their materials like metals, crystals,
structure and function or polymers.
Medicine Forensics
Diagnosing diseases by
Analyzing tiny evidence
analyzing tissue samples
samples, such as fibers or hair,
(biopsies), blood smears, or
in criminal investigations
other biological specimens.
History of the Microscope
1590 –first compound
microscope
It's not clear who invented the first
microscope, but the Dutch spectacle
maker Zacharias Janssen (b. 1585) is
credited with making one of the
earliest compound microscopes (ones
that used two lenses) around 1600.
Robert Hooke - study about the cell.
-coined the term "CELL”for
describing biological organisms
Did this while observing
cork cells
cell walls of dead plant
cells from bark. Saw
“row of empty boxes”
Robert Hooke (1665)
Robert Hooke
Hooke’s drawings of cork cells →
He also made many other
detailed drawings of organisms
he viewed with his microscope.
◦The flea →
Anton Van Leeuwenhoek
- "the Father of
Microbiology", and
considered to be the first
microbiologist
- study microscopy.
- improvement of
microscope
Anton van Leeuwenhoek (1674)
Anton Van Leeuwenhoek
Was not the first microscope Observed first living
maker, but made some of the cells
best early microscopes Pond water, various
Very high magnifications for the bodily fluids that had
bacteria swimming
time – up to 300x about in them, etc.
Year - 1600s Remember that the
cells Hooke observed
were non-living (cork)
Anton Van Leeuwenhoek
Images he drew of bacteria in
plaque removed from his teeth.
These are the first known
observations of bacteria
He called them “animalcules”
Types of Microscope
Electron
Light Microscope Flourescence
Microscope Microscope
Types of Microscopes
[Link] MICROSCOPE 2. ELECTRON MICROSCOPE:
Uses visible light and a series of lenses to Uses a beam of electrons instead of light to
magnify objects. Common types include: achieve much higher magnifications, up to
millions of times. Used to observe VERY small
objects: viruses, DNA, parts of cells
1. Compound Microscope There are two main types:
2. Stereomicroscope (Dissecting Microscope) 1. Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM
2. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM
Light Microscope
Compound Microscope: The most common type, which uses multiple lenses to
achieve high magnification, typically up to 1000x. It's used to view thin sections
of specimens like cells and tissues. light passes through 2 lenses.
Stereomicroscope (Dissecting Microscope): Provides a three-dimensional view
of larger specimens at lower magnifications, typically used for dissection or
examining the surface of objects.
Stereomicroscope
Compound
Microscope
Electron Microscope
Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM): Provides detailed images of the internal
structure of thinly sliced specimens by transmitting electrons through them. Can magnify
up to 250,000x
Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM): Produces detailed three-dimensional images of the
surface of specimens by scanning them with a focused beam of electrons. Can magnify
up to 100,000x
Types of Microscopes
3. FLUORESCENCE MICROSCOPE:
Uses fluorescence and phosphorescence instead of, or in
addition to, reflection and absorption to study properties of
organic or inorganic substances. It’s often used in biological
research to view specific components within cells.
Fluorescence Microscope
Microscope Vocabulary
Magnification: increase of an object’s
apparent size
Resolution: power to show details
clearly
Both are needed to see a clear image
Field of View: the visible area seen through the microscope
when the specimen is in focus. The greater the
magnification the smaller the view.
Focus: a specimen is in focus at the desired magnification
when the image seen through the ocular lens is sharp and
clear
Field of View (FOV)
The field of view is the maximum area visible through the lenses of a microscope, and it is
represented by a diameter. To determine the diameter of your field of view, place a transparent
metric ruler under the low power (LP) objective of a microscope. Focus the microscope on the
scale of the ruler, and measure the diameter of the field of vision in millimeters. Record this
number.
Calculate the area of the field of view using the formula for the area of a circle: A = π ×
r2
When you are viewing an object under high power, it is sometimes not possible to determine
the field of view directly. The higher the power of magnification, the smaller the field of view.
The Light Microscope
Guidelines for Use
• Always carry with 2 hands
• Only use lens paper for cleaning
• Do not force knobs
• Always store covered
Magnification
Your microscope has 3 magnifications: Scanning, Low and High.
Each objective will have written the magnification. In addition to
this, the ocular lens (eyepiece) has a magnification. The total
magnification is the ocular x objective
Eyepiece
Body Tube
Revolving Nosepiece
Arm
Objective Lens
Stage
Stage Clips
Coarse Focus
Diaphragm
Fine Focus
Light
Base
Typical Classroom Microscope
Eyepiece
Eyepiece
Also known as the ocular
Contains the first lens you look through - usually a
magnification of 10x
Located on the top of the body tube
Body Tube
Body Tube
Connects the eyepiece to the objective lenses.
It ensures proper alignment of the optics so that
light passes from the objective lens to the
eyepiece.
Objective Lenses
Objective Lenses
Used in combination with the eyepiece to provide a
range of magnification
Magnification ranges from 40x to 400x
Located on the nose-piece at the bottom of the
body tube
Objective Lenses
•Scanning Objective (4x): Provides the lowest
magnification, used to locate the specimen.
•Low Power Objective (10x): Used for viewing
larger portions of the specimen in greater detail.
•High Power Objective (40x): Used for viewing fine
details within the specimen.
•Oil Immersion Objective (100x): Used with a drop
of immersion oil to achieve very high magnification
and resolution.
As magnification increases, the field of view decreases
Nosepiece
Revolving Nosepiece (Turret)
Holds the objective lenses
and allows you to rotate
them to change the
magnification.
Arm
Arm
Supports the upper parts of the microscope
Used to carry the microscope
When carrying a microscope, always have one hand
on the arm and one hand on the base.
Use two hands!!
Base
Base
Supports the whole microscope
Used to carry the microscope
When carrying a microscope, always have one hand on
the arm and one hand on the base. Use two hands!!
Stage
Stage
Supports the slide
The slide contains the specimen or object that you are viewing with
the microscope.
Stage Clip
Stage Clip
Helps to hold the slide in place
Usually one on each side of the hole (stage opening) = 2
stage clips
The stage opening allows light to pass from the light
source to the lenses.
Light Source
Light Source
Provides light necessary for viewing the specimen
Usually either a mirror or illuminator
Sends light through the stage opening to the diaphragm
Diaphragm
Diaphragm (Iris)
Wheel or lever located below the stage opening
Regulates the amount of light that can enter the lenses
May need to be adjusted based on the thickness of the
specimen being studied.
Condenser
Focuses light onto the specimen. It’s
located beneath the stage and
improves the contrast and resolution
of the image.
Coarse Adjustment Knob
Coarse Adjustment Knob
Raises and lowers the stage or objective lenses
Used only when focusing the Scanning (4x) and low
power (10x) objective lens
Fine Adjustment Knob
Fine Adjustment Knob
Raises and lowers the stage or objective lenses a small distance for
exact focusing
Used when focusing the medium power (10x) and high power (40x)
objective lenses
Stage Control
Controls located underneath the stage of a
microscope that allows the movement of the
stage back and forth in order to allow examination
of specimen
GENERAL PROCEDURES
1. MAKE SURE ALL BACKPACKS AND
MATERIALS ARE OUT OF THE AISLES
AND OFF THE TOPS OF DESKS.
2. PLUG YOUR MICROSCOPE IN TO THE
OUTLET.
3 . STORE WITH CORD WRAPPED AROUND
MICROSCOPE AND THE SCANNING
OBJECTIVE CLICKED INTO PLACE.
4. CARRY BY THE BASE AND ARM WITH
BOTH HANDS.
Focusing Specimens
1. Always start with the scanning objective.
Use the Coarse Knob to focus and then the fine
adjustment knob until clear, image may be small at this
magnification.
2. Once you've focused on Scanning, switch to
Low Power.
Use the Coarse Knob to refocus, then fine
adjustment until clear.
Now switch to High Power.. At this point, ONLY
use the Fine Adjustment Knob to focus
specimens.
• Your slide MUST be focused on low power
before attempting this step
• Click the nosepiece to the longest objective
• Do NOT use the Coarse Focusing Knob, this could
crack the slide or the lens
• Use the Fine Focus Knob to bring the slide
Mounting a specimen
Add a drop of suspension to the center of a slide.
Place a cover slip on the slide at an angle so that it douches the drop.
Slowly lower the raised end of the cover slip so that it forces the drop to flow away
from the edge of the cover slip that is touching the slide.
Place the wet mount on the stage of the microscope.
The objective lenses of a compound microscope causes the orientation of the image of the
specimen to be inverted compared to the orientation of the actual specimen which means that
a specimen viewed through a compound microscope will look upside down and backwards
compared to how the specimen is mounted on the slide.
Drawing Specimens
1. Use pencil - you can erase and shade areas
2. All drawings should include clear and proper labels (and be large
enough to view details). Drawings should be labeled with the specimen
name and magnification.
3. Labels should be written on the outside of the circle. The circle
indicates the viewing field as seen through the eyepiece, specimens
should be drawn to scale - ie..if your specimen takes up the whole
viewing field, make sure your drawing reflects that.
Troubleshooting
Occasionally you may have trouble with working your microscope. Here are some
common problems and solutions.
1. Image is too dark!
Adjust the diaphragm, make sure your light is on.
2. There's a spot in my viewing field, even when I move the slide the spot stays in the
same place!
Your lens is dirty. Use lens paper, and only lens paper to carefully clean the objective and
ocular lens. The ocular lens can be removed to clean the inside. The spot is probably a
spec of dust.
3. I can't see anything under high power!
Remember the steps, if you can't focus under scanning and then low power, you won't be
able to focus anything under high power. Start at scanning and walk through the steps
again.
4. Only half of my viewing field is lit, it looks like there's a half-moon in there!
You probably don't have your objective fully clicked into place..
Thank you for Listening!
