PCBI101 LAB: MICROSCOPE

• Microscope


  An instrument used in science laboratories to visualize very minute objects such as cells, tissues, microorganisms, giving a contrasting image that is magnified
• Microscopes


  • Made up of lenses for magnification, each with their own magnification powers
  • Depending on the type of lens, it will magnify the specimen according to its focal strength
  • Offer the ability to see great detail of objects that are hundreds of times too small to see with your naked eye
• Parts of a compound microscope

  • Base
  • Pillar
  • Arm
  • Stage
  • Stage Clip
  • Draw tube
  • Revolving nosepiece
  • Coarse focus knob
  • Fine focus knob
  • Ocular / Eyepiece
  • Scanning objective
  • Low Power Objective
  • High Power Objective
  • Oil Immersion Objective
  • Illuminator/Lamp
  • Mirror
  • Sub-stage
  • Iris diaphragm
  • Condenser
• Using the microscope


  1. Skill in using the microscope is necessary for many of the exercises in the lab manual

  2. Learning to use the microscope is both easy and fun

  3. Basic rules when using the microscope in a real laboratory setting
• Total magnification


  Determined by multiplying the power of the ocular by the power of the objective in use
• Magnification settings


  • Scanning 4x, Ocular 10x, Total 40x
  • Low Power 10x, Ocular 10x, Total 100x
  • High Power 40x, Ocular 10x, Total 400x
  • Oil Immersion 100x, Ocular 10x, Total 1000x