Parts of a Compound Light Microscope

Mirror / Light the light source for a microscope, typically located in the base of the microscope. Most light microscopes use low voltage, halogen bulbs with continuous variable lighting control located within the base.

A. Mirror / Light

Coarse adjustment knob used to focus the microscope You use it to move the objective lenses toward or away from the specimen.

C. Course adjustment knob

Fine adjustment knob used to focus the microscope This is the knob used to fine tune the focus on the specimen. It is also used to focus on various parts of the specimen. Generally one uses the coarse focus first to get close then moves to the fine focus knob for fine tuning.

B. Fine adjustment knob

Eye piece The eyepiece or Ocular is what you look through at the top of the microscope. Most eyepieces have a magnifying power of 10x.

D. Eye piece

Nose piece The part of the microscope that holds the objective lenses also called a revolving nosepiece or turret. The objectives are exposed and are mounted so that different objectives can be selected. Standard objectives include 4x, 10x, 40x and 100x.

F. Nose

Objective lenses The primary optical lenses on a microscope. They range from 4x-100x and typically, include, three, four or five on lens on most microscopes.

G. Objective lenses

Stage clips Holds the slide in place The viewer is required to move the slide manually to view different sections of the specimen.

H. Stage Clips

Stage where the specimen to be viewed is placed.

I. Stage

Diaphragm controls the amount of light reaching the specimen.

J. Diaphragm

Hooke's compound microscope From "The Microscope and Its Revelations" Carpenter, 1891: image of Hooke's compound microscope 1665

Leeuwenhoek's simple microscope From "The Microscope and Its Revelations" Carpenter, 1891: images of Leeuwenhoek's simple microscope

Today we will be looking at: Salt crystalscolored thread Wool fibersnewspaper print Cotton fibersnylon fibers The letter “e”cork Dustsilk fibers Volcanic ashcorn starch You will select 5 to practice focusing & drawing (in color) under all three powers

A. Mirror / Light D. Eye piece C. Course adjustment knob J. Diaphragm I. Stage H. Stage Clips G. Objective lenses E. Nose B. Fine adjustment knob