Micropara

• What is a compound microscope?

  A microscope with multiple magnifying lenses
• How much can a compound microscope magnify objects?

  Approximately a thousand times their original size
• What is the main source of illumination for a compound microscope?

  Visible light
• What is another name for the compound microscope?

  Compound light microscope
• How many magnifying lens systems does a compound microscope have?

  Two magnifying lens systems
• What is the magnifying power of the ocular lens in a compound microscope?

  10x
• Where is the objective lens located in a compound microscope?

  Above the organism to be viewed
• What are the main components of a compound microscope?

  • Ocular lens (eyepiece)
  • Revolving nosepiece
  • Diopter adjustment
  • Body tube (head)
  • Arm
  • Coarse adjustment
  • Fine adjustment
  • Objective lenses
  • Stage
  • Stage clips
  • Stage control
  • Aperture
  • On/off switch
  • Illuminator
  • Iris diaphragm
  • Condenser
  • Base
• What is the function of the ocular lens in a microscope?

  It allows the viewer to see the specimen
• What does the revolving nosepiece do?

  Holds the objective lenses
• What is the purpose of the diopter adjustment?

  To correct vision differences between eyes
• What connects the eyepiece to the objective lenses?

  Body tube or head
• What does the arm of the microscope do?

  Connects the body tube to the base
• What is the function of the coarse adjustment?

  Brings the specimen into general focus
• What does the fine adjustment do?

  Increases the details of the specimen
• Where are the objective lenses located?

  Above the stage, closest to the specimen
• How many objective lenses does a compound microscope typically have?

  3 to 5 objectives
• What is the stage of a microscope?

  The flat platform for the specimen
• What are stage clips used for?

  To hold the slide in place
• What does the stage control do?

  Moves the stage left/right or forward/backward
• What is the purpose of the aperture in a microscope?

  Allows light to reach the slide
• Where is the on/off switch located on a microscope?

  At the base of the microscope
• What is the illuminator in a microscope?

  The light source of the microscope
• What does the iris diaphragm do?

  Adjusts the amount of light through the condenser
• What is the function of the condenser?

  Focuses light onto the specimen
• What does the base of the microscope do?

  Supports the microscope and houses the illuminator
• What is a brightfield microscope?

  A microscope using visible light for illumination
• How much can a brightfield microscope magnify an object?

  1,000 to 1,500 times
• What types of specimens are visualized with a brightfield microscope?

  Bacteria and fungi
• What is the limitation of a brightfield microscope?

  Cannot visualize objects less than 0.2 µm
• Why is it called a brightfield microscope?

  Specimens appear dark against a bright field
• What is a drawback of the brightfield microscope?

  Very low contrast; staining is often needed
• What is a darkfield microscope?

  A microscope using reflected light for illumination
• How does a darkfield microscope illuminate specimens?

  Specimens appear bright against a dark background
• What type of specimens is a darkfield microscope ideal for?

  Unstained or transparent specimens
• What external details can a darkfield microscope examine?

  Outline or surface of the specimen
• What type of organisms can be viewed with a darkfield microscope?

  Spirochetes
• What principle does phase-contrast microscopy rely on?

  Differences in refractive indices and light waves
• Who introduced phase-contrast microscopy?

  Frits Zernike
• What is the purpose of phase-contrast microscopy?

  To produce high-contrast images of transparent specimens