1. INRODUCTION TO MICROSCOPY

1.1. PARTS OF A MICROSCOPE

Structural parts
  • Arm: Connects the head to the base and is used to carry the microscope.
  • Base: The bottom support of the microscope, which may also house the illuminator. 
Optical parts
Eyepiece (Ocular Lens): 
The lens at the top that the user looks through; it magnifies the image from the objective lens. 
Body Tube (Eyepiece Tube): 
Connects the eyepiece to the objective lenses. 
Objective Lenses: 
Lenses with different magnifications (e.g., 4x, 10x, 40x) that are mounted on the revolving nosepiece. 
Revolving Nosepiece (Turret): 
Holds the objective lenses and allows you to rotate them into place to change magnification. 
Illuminator: 
The light source, typically a built-in lamp, that shines light through the specimen. 
Condenser: 
A lens system located under the stage that focuses the light from the illuminator onto the specimen. 
Diaphragm (Iris Diaphragm): 
Controls the amount of light that passes through the specimen, affecting brightness and contrast. 
Mechanical and focusing parts
Stage: The platform where the specimen slide is placed. 
Stage Clips: Hold the slide securely on the stage. 
Focus Knobs (Coarse and Fine):
Coarse Adjustment: Moves the stage up and down for large changes in focus. 
Fine Adjustment: Moves the stage in small increments for sharp, precise focusing.