Compound Microscope: Parts and Usage

The compound microscope is a type of optical microscope that uses multiple lenses to magnifies objects. It is a standard microscope used for viewing smaller specimens such as cell structures, which cannot be seen at lower levels of magnification. The compound microscope consists of structural and optical components, each with its unique function.

Parts of a Compound Microscope:

1. Eyepiece (ocular lens) with or without Pointer: The part that is looked through at the top of the compound microscope.
2. Objective Lenses: There are usually 3-5 optical lens objectives on a compound microscope, each with different magnifying powers such as 4x, 10x, 40x, and 100x.
3. Specimen or slide: The object used to hold the specimen in place along with slide covers for viewing.
4. Stage or Platform: The platform upon which the specimen or slide are placed. The height of the mechanical stage is adjustable on most compound microscopes.
5. Stage clips or mechanical stage: Clips on the stage that hold the slide in place on the mechanical stage.
6. Aperture - Disc or Iris Diaphragm: Circular opening in the stage where the illumination from the base of the compound microscope passes through.
7. Abbe Condenser: This lens condenses the light from the base illumination and focuses it on the specimen.

The compound microscope is used by focusing the objective lens on the specimen and then viewing the magnified image through the eyepiece. The total magnification of a compound microscope is calculated by multiplying the objective lens magnification with the eyepiece magnification. For a compound microscope with a 10x eyepiece magnification looking through the 40x objective lens, the total magnification would be 400x.

Care and maintenance of a compound microscope include:

1. Clean the microscope after each use with a Kimwipe or lens paper and the alcohol in the labeled jars.
2. Turn off the light before putting the microscope away.
3. Always place the 4X objective over the stage and be sure the stage is at its lowest position before putting the microscope away.
4. Always wrap the cord correctly before putting the microscope away.
5. Always return the microscope to the correct cabinet.
6. Always place the oculars toward the BACK of the cabinet.

Compound microscopes have a great use in the field of microscopical