Parts of a Microscope
Even though compound microscopes were being used since our mid school and high school days, many of us do not actually know the parts of a microscope. To understand the different microscope parts and their function, read on.
Indeed the invention of microscopes has been a milestone in the field of scientific studies and researches. Today, microscopes of different magnifying powers are used in several applications. To mention a few, a simple microscope with only one magnifying lens is used in schools, while a compound microscope with more than one lens is used in high schools, colleges and advanced scientific studies. Likewise, scientists and forensic researchers make use of an electron microscope that has a very high resolution power.
Majority of us are well acquainted with a compound microscope. Remember your mid school days, when your teacher demonstrated the use of a compound microscope for the first time. Each of the parts in the microscope is responsible for a specific function, which collectively result in a magnified view of the object, which is under observation. In this article, we will discuss the different components that make up a microscope and what part they play in the device.
Parts of a Microscope and their Functions
The compound microscope uses light and multiple lenses for creating a very magnified view of the specimen or object. As visible light plays a crucial role in the overall working of this device, it is also referred to as light or optical microscope. The magnifying power of a compound microscope ranges between 1,000 to 2,000 times, depending upon the types of lenses that we have used while viewing. This magnifying value is very much higher than that of the traditional simple microscope that enlarges an object to about 100-300 times.
Broadly speaking, there are three components of a compound microscope - head (body), arm and base. The head refers to the upper portion of the device and houses the optical lenses, whereas the base comprises the illuminator and supports the microscope. The base portion connects the head and base and is basically used for handling the compound microscope. Following is a list of the different parts of a microscope, arranged according to their position from top to bottom.
Eyepiece: Eyepiece, also known as ocular, is the lens with which we view the specimen in a compound microscope. The power of the eyepiece lens is usually 10X or 15X. You can also change the eyepiece with a larger magnification value of about 25X to 30X.
Body Tube: Body tube is the metal part that mechanically supports both the objectives and eyepiece. It should be aligned in such a manner that the objective and eyepiece lens are in one plane. Also, the length of the body tube is fixed, either 170 millimeter or 180 millimeter.
Revolving Nosepiece: Nosepiece is the part of the microscope that houses the primary lenses of the microscope - the objectives. Hence, it is located just above the objectives. The lenses are mounted on a revolving turret, so that one can conveniently select a specific objective lens, as per the requirements.
Arm: It is the curved part that connects the base of the compound microscope with the top portion. The purpose of the arm or limb is to support the body tube. For safe handling and picking up of the microscope, one hand supports the arm and the other supports the base.
Objectives: These are the primary optical components of a microscope. As the name suggests, objective lenses are placed near the object. A typical compound microscope is constructed with 3 or 4 objective lenses, having different magnifying powers, ranging from 4X-100X.
Stage and Stage Clips: Stage is the flat portion, where the specimen to be observed is placed on a slide. If the model supports, one can use a mechanical stage for fine movements of the slide. Stage clips, on the other hand, are used for fixing the slide at a particular position.
Diaphragm: Diaphragm (or iris) is installed just underneath the stage in a compound microscope. It is an adjustable, rotating disk with different sized holes. The function of the diaphragm is to adjust the size as well as the intensity of light, which is focused on the slide from below.
Coarse and Fine Adjustment Knobs: These knobs are basically used for the purpose of focusing in a compound microscope. The coarse adjustment knob is used for quick movement of the body tube and the stage; whereas the fine adjustment knob is for precise and fine focusing of the object.
Condenser Lens: The function of the condenser lens is to collect and focus visible light to the object in the slide. It increases the clarity of the image to a certain extent, particularly while viewing the specimen with more than 400X magnification. Based on the model, a compound microscope may or may not support a condenser lens.
Base: It represents the bottom portion of the compound microscope. In some models, an artificial light source called illuminator (about 110 volts) is located at the base. The base, as mentioned already, does the function of supporting the weight of the compound microscope.
For better understanding, refer to the labeled parts of a microscope along with the description mentioned above. Handling the microscope roughly and/or improper maintenance may reduce the clarity of the magnified image. Hence, while using a compound microscope, always refer to the guidelines as mentioned in the user instructions.
Majority of us are well acquainted with a compound microscope. Remember your mid school days, when your teacher demonstrated the use of a compound microscope for the first time. Each of the parts in the microscope is responsible for a specific function, which collectively result in a magnified view of the object, which is under observation. In this article, we will discuss the different components that make up a microscope and what part they play in the device.
Parts of a Microscope and their Functions
The compound microscope uses light and multiple lenses for creating a very magnified view of the specimen or object. As visible light plays a crucial role in the overall working of this device, it is also referred to as light or optical microscope. The magnifying power of a compound microscope ranges between 1,000 to 2,000 times, depending upon the types of lenses that we have used while viewing. This magnifying value is very much higher than that of the traditional simple microscope that enlarges an object to about 100-300 times.
Broadly speaking, there are three components of a compound microscope - head (body), arm and base. The head refers to the upper portion of the device and houses the optical lenses, whereas the base comprises the illuminator and supports the microscope. The base portion connects the head and base and is basically used for handling the compound microscope. Following is a list of the different parts of a microscope, arranged according to their position from top to bottom.
Eyepiece: Eyepiece, also known as ocular, is the lens with which we view the specimen in a compound microscope. The power of the eyepiece lens is usually 10X or 15X. You can also change the eyepiece with a larger magnification value of about 25X to 30X.
Body Tube: Body tube is the metal part that mechanically supports both the objectives and eyepiece. It should be aligned in such a manner that the objective and eyepiece lens are in one plane. Also, the length of the body tube is fixed, either 170 millimeter or 180 millimeter.
Revolving Nosepiece: Nosepiece is the part of the microscope that houses the primary lenses of the microscope - the objectives. Hence, it is located just above the objectives. The lenses are mounted on a revolving turret, so that one can conveniently select a specific objective lens, as per the requirements.
Arm: It is the curved part that connects the base of the compound microscope with the top portion. The purpose of the arm or limb is to support the body tube. For safe handling and picking up of the microscope, one hand supports the arm and the other supports the base.
Objectives: These are the primary optical components of a microscope. As the name suggests, objective lenses are placed near the object. A typical compound microscope is constructed with 3 or 4 objective lenses, having different magnifying powers, ranging from 4X-100X.
Stage and Stage Clips: Stage is the flat portion, where the specimen to be observed is placed on a slide. If the model supports, one can use a mechanical stage for fine movements of the slide. Stage clips, on the other hand, are used for fixing the slide at a particular position.
Diaphragm: Diaphragm (or iris) is installed just underneath the stage in a compound microscope. It is an adjustable, rotating disk with different sized holes. The function of the diaphragm is to adjust the size as well as the intensity of light, which is focused on the slide from below.
Coarse and Fine Adjustment Knobs: These knobs are basically used for the purpose of focusing in a compound microscope. The coarse adjustment knob is used for quick movement of the body tube and the stage; whereas the fine adjustment knob is for precise and fine focusing of the object.
Condenser Lens: The function of the condenser lens is to collect and focus visible light to the object in the slide. It increases the clarity of the image to a certain extent, particularly while viewing the specimen with more than 400X magnification. Based on the model, a compound microscope may or may not support a condenser lens.
Base: It represents the bottom portion of the compound microscope. In some models, an artificial light source called illuminator (about 110 volts) is located at the base. The base, as mentioned already, does the function of supporting the weight of the compound microscope.
For better understanding, refer to the labeled parts of a microscope along with the description mentioned above. Handling the microscope roughly and/or improper maintenance may reduce the clarity of the magnified image. Hence, while using a compound microscope, always refer to the guidelines as mentioned in the user instructions.
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