BIOLOGY 1

(MICROSCOPE)

Figure: Diagram of parts of a Microscope

There are three structural parts of the microscope i.e. head, base, and arm.

1. Head – This is also known as the body. It carries the optical parts in the upper part of the microscope.
2. Base – It acts as microscopes support. It also carries microscopic illuminators.
3. Arms – This is the part connecting the base and to the head and the eyepiece tube to the base of the
microscope. It gives support to the head of the microscope and it is also used when carrying the
microscope. Some high-quality microscopes have an articulated arm with more than one joint allowing
more movement of the microscopic head for better viewing.
Optical parts of a microscope and their functions

The optical parts of the microscope are used to view, magnify, and produce an image from a specimen
placed on a slide. These parts include:

1. Eyepiece – also known as the ocular. This is the part used to look through the microscope. Its found at
the top of the microscope. Its standard magnification is 10x with an optional eyepiece having
magnifications from 5X to 30X.
2. Eyepiece tube – it’s the eyepiece holder. It carries the eyepiece just above the objective lens. In some
microscopes such as the binoculars, the eyepiece tube is flexible and can be rotated for maximum
visualization, for variance in distance. For monocular microscopes, they are none flexible.
3. Objective lenses – These are the major lenses used for specimen visualization. They have a
magnification power of 40x-100X. There are about 1- 4 objective lenses placed on one microscope, in
that some are rare facing and others face forward.  Each lens has its own magnification power.
4. Nose piece – also known as the revolving turret. It holds the objective lenses. It is movable hence it cal
revolve the objective lenses depending on the magnification power of the lens.
5. The Adjustment knobs – These are knobs that are used to focus the microscope. There are two types of
adjustment knobs i.e fine adjustment knobs and coarse adjustment knobs.
6. Stage – This is the section in which the specimen is placed for viewing. They have stage clips that hold
the specimen slides in place. The most common stage is the mechanical stage, which allows the control
of the slides by moving the slides using the mechanical knobs on the stage instead of moving them
manually.
7. Aperture – This is a hole on the microscope stage, through which the transmitted light from the source
reaches the stage.
8. Microscopic illuminator – This is the microscopes light source, located at the base. It is used instead of a
mirror. It captures light from an external source of a low voltage of about 100v.
9. Condenser – These are lenses that are used to collect and focus light from the illuminator into the
specimen. They are found under the stage next to the diaphragm of the microscope. They play a major
role in ensuring clear sharp images are produced with a high magnification of 400X and above. The
higher the magnification of the condenser, the more the image clarity. More sophisticated microscopes
come with an Abbe condenser that has a high magnification of about 1000X.
10. Diaphragm – it’s also known as the iris. Its found under the stage of the microscope and its primary role
is to control the amount of light that reaches the specimen. It’s an adjustable apparatus, hence
controlling the light intensity and the size of the beam of light that gets to the specimen. For high-quality
microscopes, the diaphragm comes attached with an Abbe condenser and combined they are able to
control the light focus and light intensity that reaches the specimen.
11. Condenser focus knob – this is a knob that moves the condenser up or down thus controlling the focus of
light on the specimen.
12. Abbe Condenser – this is a condenser specially designed for high-quality microscopes, which makes the
condenser to be movable and allows very high magnification of above 400X. High-quality microscopes
normally have a high numerical aperture than objective lenses.
13. The rack stop – It controls how far the stages should go preventing the objective lens from getting too
close to the specimen slide which may damage the specimen. It is responsible for preventing the
specimen slide from coming too far up and hitting the objective lens.
Parts of a Microscope Revision Questions (FAQs)

Q. Define a Microscope.

Ans. Microscopes are instruments that are used in science laboratories, to visualize very minute objects such as
cells, and microorganisms, giving a contrasting image, that is magnified.

Q. State functions of a microscope.

Ans. A microscope is usually used for the study of microscopic algae, fungi, and biological specimens.

Q. Differentiate between a condenser and an Abbe condenser.

Ans. Condensers are lenses that are used to collect and focus light from the illuminator into the specimen. They
are found under the stage next to the diaphragm of the microscope. They play a major role in ensuring clear
sharp images are produced with a high magnification of 400X and above. Abbe condenser is a condenser
specially designed for high-quality microscopes, which makes the condenser to be movable and allows very
high magnification of above 400X. High-quality microscopes normally have a high numerical aperture than
objective lenses.

Q. What is the magnification power of the objective lenses?

Ans. Objective lenses have a magnification power of 40X to 100X.

Q. How does the eyepiece compare to the objective lens?

Ans. The eyepiece, also known as the ocular is the part used to look through the microscope. Its found at the
top of the microscope. Its standard magnification is 10x with an optional eyepiece having magnifications from
5X – 30X. Objective Lens are the major lenses used for specimen visualization. They have a magnification
power of 40x-100x. There are about 1- 4 objective lenses placed on one microscope, in that some are rare facing
and others face forward.

Q. Why is the rack stop included in the microscope from the factory, and can it be replaced?

Ans. Rack stop is included in the microscope for preventing the specimen slide from coming too far up and
hitting the objective lens.

Q. What is a magnification power?

Ans. Magnification of a lens is defined as the ratio of the height of an image to the height of an object.
Microscope magnification measures the total enlargement of the image of an object. Magnification power is the
product of eyepiece lens power and objective lens power.

Q. Differentiate between the fine and the coarse adjustment knobs.

Ans. The coarse adjustment knob moves the stage up and down to bring the specimen into focus. The fine
adjustment knob brings the specimen into sharp focus under low power and is used for all focusing when
using high-power lenses.

Q. List down the 18 parts of a Microscope.

Q. List down the 3 structural parts of a microscope.

1. Head
2. Arms
3. Base