Body Tube - holds the objective lenses and the ocular lens at the proper distance.
Nose Piece - holds the objective lenses and can be turned to increase the magnification.
Objective Lenses - Lenses increase magnification (usually from 10x to 40x).
Stage Clips - These 2 clips hold the slide/specimen in place on the stage.
Diaphragm - The Diaphragm controls the amount of light on the slide/specimen.
Light Source - Projects light upwards through the diaphragm, the specimen and the lenses.
Ocular lenses - Magnifies the specimen image.
Arm - Used to support the microscope when carried. Holds the body tube, nose piece and objective lenses.
Stage - Supports the slide/specimen.
Course Adjustment Knob - Moves the stage up and down (quickly) for focusing your image.
Fine Adjustment Knob - This knob moves the stage SLIGHTLY to sharpen the image.
Base - Supports the microscope.
Scanner - usually marked 4x, combined with the eyepiece lens, will provide the lowest magnification power.
Low power objective- usually marked 10x, most helpful in analyzing glass slide samples.
High power objective- longer than the LPO and usually marked 40x or 60x, used to focus on a specific part of the specimen.
Oil Magnification – largest magnification ever.
Confocal Microscope - Uses laser light, Laser light scan across the specimen with the aid of scanning mirrors, the image is placed on a digital computer screen.
Dissection or stereoscope – Used to get a better look at larger specimen, you cannot see individual cells because it has low magnification.
Scanning Electron Microscope - Uses electron illumination, Image seen is 3-D, with high magnification & resolution, Specimen is coated with gold & the electrons bounce to give you exterior view of the specimen, Pictures are in black & white.
Compound/Light Microscope - uses compound lenses to magnify objects
Transmission Electron Microscope - Uses electron illumination, image seen is 2-D, Thin slices of specimen are obtained, With high resolution and high magnification.