Microscopy Flashcards
is a laboratory equipment used to view complex, minute, structures; invented by Anton van Leeuwenhoek whose first specimen was pond water.
Compound light microscope
a microscopic animal
Animalcules
Three major parts of microscope:
Optical, Illuminating, Mechanical.
are used to view specimens, illuminating parts are those involved with light provision and adjustment.
Optical parts of the microscope
Compound light microscope considers three parameters:
Magnification, Resolution, Contrast
extends our ability to observe the details 1000 times, so that we can see objects as small as 0.1 micrometer in diameter
Magnification
resolving power is the
ability to distinguish two adjacent
objects as distinct and separate.
Resolution
typically improves the final image, as this will accentuate differences in parts of the specimen
Contrast
Is also known as “ocular”, the part used to look through the microscope. It have a standard magnification of 10x
Eyepiece/Ocular Lense
Moves the stage up and down to bring the specimen into focus
Coarse Adjustment
Brings the specimen
into sharp focus under low power
Fine Adjustment
Provides the lowest magnification power in all of the objective lenses (4x)
Scanning objective Lens
The part connecting the base and to the head and the eyepiece to the base of the microscope
Arm
Where the microscope arm connects the microscope base
Inclination joint
It carries the microscopic illuminators and acts as microscope support.
Body tube
Also known as the “revolving turret”. It holds the objective lenses and is moveable
Nosepiece
also called high dry lens, is ideal in observing fine details within the specimen sample.
High power objective (HPO)
It has more magnification power than the scanning lens, and is one of the most helpful when it comes to observing
Low power objective (LPO)
holds the slide in place, In a microscope with a mechanical stage
Clips
holds the slides supported by stage clips
Stage
It is also known as the Iris. It is located under the stage of the microscope
Diaphragm
is used to reflect light from an external source up through the stage’s bottom.
Mirror
It is the bottom part that serves as a support for the microscope.
Base
Mechanical
Coarse adjustment
Fine adjustment
Inclination joint
Arm
Body tube
Nose piece
Clips
Stage
Base
Optical
Eyepiece
Scanning
objective Lens
High power
objective (HPO)
Low power
objective (LPO)
Illuminating
Mirror
This is the ability of a microscope to stay relatively in focus as the user switches among the objectives
parfocal
is when the object or specimen being viewed is magnified to its maximum limit.
total magnification
refers to the finest detail that a microscope can resolve when imaging a specimen;
resolving power
is the maximum area visible through the lenses of a microscope, and it is represented by a diameter.
field of vision
LPF Conversion
LPF=1mm=1000um
HPF Conversion
HPF=LPO/HPOxLPF
Calculating Specimen Size (length of cell)
length of cell(um)=
Field of vision/number of cells
