Virtual Microscopy Terminologies Flashcards
This specially-designed lens, with an iris-type aperture, and mounted under the stage, moves vertically to adjust the beam of light entering the lens system.
Abbe Condenser
Are used to correct the bending or refraction of light as it passes through the prisms or lenses in the microscope. It has different indexes of refraction to realign certain colors of light at the focal point, resulting in a much clearer image.
Achromatic lenses
Is the area of the microscope between the tube and the base.
Arm
This stand holds the microscope body, clamps to a table, and provides movement in three dimensions
Articulated arm
This features a head with two eyepiece lenses, one eyepiece for each eye
Binocular head
This refers to the main section of the microscope, minus the stand (base) or any illuminators. Generally includes the eyepiece and objective lenses, but not the focusing block.
Body
Is a n adapter for use with a video camera. In general, the lens from the camera is removed and replaced with an adapter which then connects to the trinocular port of the microscope
C-mount
The larger of two adjustments knobs that moves the objective lenses closer to, or further away from, the specimen in large steps.
Coarse Focus
This focusing system features the coarse and fine focus knob on a single rotation axis.
Coaxial Focus
Mounted in or below the stage, this lens focuses or “condenses” the light onto a specimen. Higher-powered objective lenses with smaller diameter require concentrated light to work properly. The use of this lens helps increase illumination and resolution.
Condenser Lens
Used on low-power microscopes, this circular opaque plate is placed on the stage, and can be flipped between a white or black side depending on the coloration of the specimen.
Contrast plate
Is a very thin square of plastic or glass used to cover the specimen on a slide. With a liquid sample, this assists with single-plane focusing by flattening out the liquid.
Cover slip
Most useful at higher powers, it is typically a five-hole disc housed under the stage that adjusts the amount of light passing through the stage opening.
Diaphragm
This German standard for the manufacture of microscope lenses features a uniform thread and works with a 160mm tube length.
DIN Optics
Used on microscopes with a binocular head, this adjustment allows each eyepiece to be focused independently to compensate for the difference in vision between your two eyes.
Diopter Adjustment
Generally found on high-power microscopes, this unit features a single eyepiece on one side and an additional eyepiece on the top or opposite side. These are useful for the teacher to verify a student’s view and they can also be used for video or camera work.
Dual Head
Also known as ocular lenses, are typically 10X, but also come in 5X, 15X, and 20X varieties. This is where you actually look through to see your specimen. The interocular distance is adjustable so that you can keep both eyes open when looking into the microscope.
Eyepiece Lens
The smaller of the two adjustment knobs moves the objective lens closer to, or farther away from, the specimen in very small steps. It can be used to fine-tune the focus on various parts of a specimen after first using the Coarse Focus to get close.
Fine Focus
Is the diameter of light visible when looking into the eyepiece lens.
Field of View
A type of stand used for low-power microscopes where the arm and body are integral parts and fixed firmly to the Base.
Fixed arm
The method by which the specimen’s distance to the objective lens is adjusted to provide a sharp image. Depending on the microscope, this adjustment will either be made by moving the stage or moving the tubes.
Focus
Upper portion of the microscope, contains the eyepiece tube or tubes and prisms.
Head
Various Heads are available, including:
Monocular Head (one eyepiece), Binocular Head (two eyepieces, one for each eye), Dual Head (two singular eyepieces), and Trinocular Head (two eyepieces with a third typically used for a camera)
This light source mounted underneath the stage commonly uses one of the three types of lights: tungsten (most common, cheapest)
Illuminator