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 crystals colored thread• Wool fibers newspaper print• Cotton fibers nylon fibers• The letter “e” cork• Dust silk fibers• Volcanic ash corn 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. NoseB. Fine adjustment knob