Understanding the Microscope Honors Biology

Compound Microscope Contains a combination of two lenses

Eyepiece or ocular lens Lens closest to the eye

Objective Lens Lens closest to the specimen or object

How to figure out magnification Eyepiece X objective = Magnification 10x X

Nosepiece Objectives fastened to this revolving structure

Stage Where you place your slide

Stage clips Hold slide in place

Body Tube Light travels through here

Light Source Provides light

Diaphragm Regulates the light reaching the objective lens

Base Supports the microscope

Arm Holds the body tube, acts as a handle

Coarse focusing knob Used to focus under low power only

Fine focusing knob Used to focus under high power only

A microscope reverses and inverts the image of an object seen under it e e Before viewing under the microscope While viewing under the microscope

Things moving under a microscope are actually moving in the opposite direction

Stereomicroscope Binocular microscope Object is seen in 3-D Only used to see large objects Does not reverse or invert images

Transmission Electron Microscope Uses a beam of electrons instead of light rays 200,000x magnification tissues have to be sliced really thin, dry and in a vacuum chamber can’t be used with living material

Scanning Electron Microscope provides images with 3-D quality can’t be used with living material

Micromanipulator Used to dissect cells, can remove nuclei Knowledge of cells has been increased by manipulation and dissection of cells

High – Speed Centrifuge Spin at high speeds Cell components sort out at different layers according to density

Microscopic Measurements Use the unit called the micrometer 1/1000 of a meter

How to convert millimeters to micrometers Multiply by one thousand…or Move the decimal point 3 places to the right