Medical Biology: The Light Microscope

Study Notes

Types of Microscopes

There are six types of microscopes: light microscope, dark-field microscope, phase-contrast microscope, fluorescent microscope, transmission electron microscope (TEM), and scanning electron microscope (SEM)

How a Light Microscope Works

The light microscope consists of an ocular lens, objective lens, body tube, and other components
The objective lens gathers light, magnifies, and focuses the image inside the body tube
The ocular lens magnifies the image again
The body tube supports the eyepiece and lenses and maintains the proper distance between them
The process of bending light involves the objective lens magnifying and focusing the image, and the ocular lens magnifying it again

Microscope Components

Eyepiece/Ocular Lens: magnifies the specimen image, where you look through to view the object
Body Tube: supports the eyepiece and lenses, maintains proper distance between them
Nose Piece: holds the objective lenses, can be turned to increase magnification
Objective Lenses: magnify the images of the specimen to form an enlarged image
Stage Clips: hold the slide/specimen in place on the stage
Diaphragm: controls the amount of light on the slide/specimen
Mirror: reflects light to the lens of the microscope
Arm: frame to which the base, body, and stage are attached
Stage: supports the slide/specimen
Coarse Adjustment Knob: moves the stage up and down for larger focusing of the image
Fine Adjustment Knob: moves the stage slightly to sharpen the image for precision focusing
Base: supports the microscope and is used for carrying it

Magnification

To determine magnification, multiply the ocular lens by the objective lens
Ocular lens usually magnifies by 10x, and objective lenses have their magnification written on them

Caring for a Microscope

Clean only with a soft cloth/tissue
Make sure it's on a flat surface
Carry it with two hands, one on the arm and the other on the base

Using a Microscope

Start on the lowest magnification
Don't use the coarse adjustment knob on high magnification
Place the slide on the stage and lock the clips
Adjust the light source/mirror
Use the fine adjustment to focus

Description

Explore the world of microscopy with this quiz on the light microscope, its types and applications in medical biology. Test your knowledge on the different types of light microscopes, from simple to compound and specialized types.