Microscope Terms

Question 1

the bottom of the microscope. Provides a sturdy flat surface to support and steady the microscope

Answer 1

base

Question 2

located in the base, the light from the lamp passes directly upward through the microscope

Answer 2

substage light

Question 3

located on the base or arm, this dial allows you to adjust the intensity of the light passing through the specimen

Answer 3

light control

Question 4

the platform that the slide rests on while being viewed, has a hole in it to allow light to pass through and view the specimen

Answer 4

stage

Question 5

holds the slide in position for viewing and has two adjustable knobs that control the precise movement of the slide

Answer 5

mechanical stage

Question 6

small non-magnifying lens located beneath the stage that concentrates the light on the specimen

Answer 6

condenser

Question 7

a shutter within the condenser that can be controlled by a lever to adjust the amount of light passing through the condenser

Answer 7

iris diaphragm lever

Question 8

this knob allows you to make large adjustments to the height of the stage to initially focus your specimen

Answer 8

coarse adjustment knob

Question 9

this knob is used for precise focusing once the initial coarse focusing has been completed

Answer 9

fine adjustment knob

Question 10

attaches to the nosepiece to support the objective lens system, also provides attachment of the eyepieces which house the ocular lens

Answer 10

head

Question 11

vertical portion of the microscope that connects to the base and the head

Answer 11

arm

Question 12

rotating mechanism connected to the head, generally carries three or four objective lenses and permits positioning of these lenses over the hole in the stage

Answer 12

nosepiece

Question 13

these lenses are attached to the nosepieces, usually scanning power (4x), low power (10x) high power (40x) and oil immersion (100x)

Answer 13

objective lenses

Question 14

binocular microscopes will have two lenses located in the eyepieces at the superior end of the head, magnification of (10x)

Answer 14

ocular lenses

Question 15

equal to the power of the ocular lens multiplied by the power of the objective lens

Answer 15

total magnification

Question 16

the ability to discriminate two close objects as separate

Answer 16

resolution

Question 17

the thickness of the plane that is clearly in focus

Answer 17

depth of field

Question 18

a lens that stays in focus when the magnification is changed

Answer 18

parfocal

Question 19

the maximum area visible when looking through a microscope eyepiece

Answer 19

field

Question 20

the distance between the front end of the microscope objective lens and the surface of the slide

Answer 20

working distance