Here is a quick overview of the most important parts of a compound microscope (biological microscope) and their function.

The following list of terms can also be found in the glossary: Condenser: This is a system of different lens elements which is mounted beneath the stage of the microscope. It contains an iris diaphragm which controls the diameter of the light beam. The light beam should be adjusted to be larger or equal to the numerical aperture of the objective in use. Condensers can be moved up and down. The normal operating position is up. Base: This is the bottom part of the microscope, it contains the lamp. Coarse Focus: Also referred to as rough focus, this nob raises and lowers the microscope stage quic ly. It should only be used in connection with the low magnification lenses. Eyepiece Lens: Also nown as ocular lenses, they magnify the image of the objective. The eyepiece is the lens into which a person loo s into when observing. The total magnification of a microscope is calculated by multiplying the magnification of the objective by the magnification of the eyepiece. !any eyepiece lenses have a magnification of "#$ ot "%$. Fine Focus: This focus nob moves the stage up and down in small steps. It is used to focus at different layers of the specimens. Head: This is the top part of the microscope. It carries the eyepiece&s' and other optical elements. There are several different types of heads: a monocular head is designed to carry only one eyepiece, a binocular head carries two &but does not give stereoscopic vision in compound microscopes' and a trinocular head is designed to carry a camera as well. Mechanical Stage: This type of stage is equipped with a slide holder and two nobs to turn. (ne nob moves the stage bac wards and forwards, the other one moves the slide sideways. Nosepiece (or revolving nosepiece, turret): This part carries the objectives. It can be rotated. !"ective Lens: This is a highly magnifying lens system, it is located close to the specimen to be observed. The image of the objective is then magnified again by the ocular lens which is close to the eye. Stage: This is the flat surface on which the slides are placed on. It can be moved up and down for focusing. Stage Clips: These are clips that hold the slide. #rinocular Head: This microscope head has three e$its, two for viewing &for binocular vision' and a third e$it to connect a camera. )ome microscopes also allow for ta ing photographs through a special adapter at the eyepiece, but a trinocular head offers more stability and is to be preferred for photographic wor .

Here are the i$portant $icroscope parts%%%

Eyepiece: The lens the viewer loo s through to see the specimen. The eyepiece usually contains a "#* or "%* power lens. &iopter 'd"ust$ent: +seful as a means to change focus on one eyepiece so as to correct for any difference in vision between your two eyes. Body tu!e (Head): The body tube connects the eyepiece to the objective lenses. 'r$: The arm connects the body tube to the base of the microscope. Coarse ad"ust$ent: ,rings the specimen into general focus. Fine ad"ust$ent: -ine tunes the focus and increases the detail of the specimen. Nosepiece: A rotating turret that houses the objective lenses. The viewer spins the nosepiece to select different objective lenses. !"ective lenses: (ne of the most important parts of a compound microscope, as they are the lenses closest to the specimen.

A standard microscope has three, four, or five objective lenses that range in power from .* to "##*. /hen focusing the microscope, be careful that the objective lens doesn0t touch the slide, as it could brea the slide and destroy the specimen. Speci$en or slide: The specimen is the object being e$amined. !ost specimens are mounted on slides, flat rectangles of thin glass. The specimen is placed on the glass and a cover slip is placed over the specimen. This allows the slide to be easily inserted or removed from the microscope. It also allows the specimen to be labeled, transported, and stored without damage. Stage: The flat platform where the slide is placed. Stage clips: !etal clips that hold the slide in place. Stage height ad"ust$ent (Stage Control): These nobs move the stage left and right or up and down. 'perture: The hole in the middle of the stage that allows light from the illuminator to reach the specimen. n(o)) s*itch : This switch on the base of the microscope turns the illuminator off and on. +llu$ination : The light source for a microscope. (lder microscopes used mirrors to reflect light from an e$ternal source up through the bottom of the stage1 however, most microscopes now use a low2voltage bulb. +ris diaphrag$: Adjusts the amount of light that reaches the specimen. Condenser: 3athers and focuses light from the illuminator onto the specimen being viewed. Base: The base supports the microscope and it0s where illuminator is located.

Ho* &oes a Microscope ,or-.

All of the parts of a microscope wor together 2 The light from the illuminator passes through the aperture, through the slide, and through the objective lens, where the image of the specimen is magnified. The then magnified image continues up through the body tube of the microscope to the eyepiece, which further magnifies the image the viewer then sees. 4earning to use and adjust your compound microscope is the ne$t important step. It5s also imperative to now and understand the best practices of cleaning your microscope.

The parts o) a $icroscope wor together in hospitals and in forensic labs, for scientists and students, bacteriologists and biologists so that they may view bacteria, plant and animal cells and tissues, and various microorganisms the world over. Compound microscopes have furthered medical research, helped to solve crimes, and they have repeatedly proven invaluable in unloc ing the secrets of the microscopic world.

Co$pound Microscope /arts

A high power or compound microscope achieves higher levels of magnification than a stereo or low power microscope. It is used to view smaller specimens such as cell structures which cannot be seen at lower levels of magnification. Essentially, a compound microscope consists of structural and optical components. However, within these two basic systems, there are some essential components that every microscopist should know and understand. These key microscope parts are illustrated and explained below. STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS The three basic, structural components of a compound microscope are the head, base and arm. Head/Body houses the optical parts in the upper part of the microscope Base of the microscope supports the microscope and houses the illuminator Arm connects to the base and supports the microscope head. It is also used to carry the microscope. hen carrying a compound microscope always take care to lift it by both the arm and base, simultaneously.

OPTICAL COMPONENTS There are two optical systems in a compound microscope! Eyepiece "enses and #b$ective "enses! Eyepiece or Ocular is what you look through at the top of the microscope. Typically, standard eyepieces have a magnifying power of %&x. #ptional eyepieces of varying powers are available, typically from 'x()&x. Eyepiece Tube holds the eyepieces in place above the ob$ective lens. *inocular microscope heads typically incorporate a diopter ad$ustment ring that allows for the possible inconsistencies of our eyesight in one or both eyes. The monocular +single eye usage, microscope does not need a diopter. *inocular microscopes also swivel +Interpupillary Ad$ustment, to allow for different distances between the eyes of different individuals. Ob ec!i"e Le#ses are the primary optical lenses on a microscope. They range from -x(%&&x and typically, include, three, four or five on lens on most microscopes. #b$ectives can be forward or rear(facing. Nosepiece houses the ob$ectives. The ob$ectives are exposed and are mounted on a rotating turret so that different ob$ectives can be conveniently selected. .tandard ob$ectives include -x, %&x, -&x and %&&x although different power ob$ectives are available. Coarse a#d $i#e $ocus %#obs are used to focus the microscope. Increasingly, they are coaxial knobs ( that is to say they are built on the same axis with the fine focus knob on the outside. /oaxial focus knobs are more convenient since the viewer does not have to grope for a different knob. S!a&e is where the specimen to be viewed is placed. A mechanical stage is used when working at higher magnifications where delicate movements of the specimen slide are re0uired. S!a&e Clips are used when there is no mechanical stage. The viewer is re0uired to move the slide manually to view different sections of the specimen. Aper!ure is the hole in the stage through which the base +transmitted, light reaches the stage. Illumi#a!or is the light source for a microscope, typically located in the base of the microscope. 1ost light microscopes use low voltage, halogen bulbs with continuous variable lighting control located within the base. Co#de#ser is used to collect and focus the light from the illuminator on to the specimen. It is located under the stage often in con$unction with an iris diaphragm. Iris 'iap(ra&m controls the amount of light reaching the specimen. It is located above the condenser and below the stage. 1ost high 0uality microscopes include an Abbe condenser with an iris diaphragm. /ombined, they control both the focus and 0uantity of light applied to the specimen. Co#de#ser $ocus )#ob moves the condenser up or down to control the lighting focus on the specimen.