Microscope Anatomy, Operation, and Cell Division

Vocabulary flashcards covering the components and proper operation of a compound microscope as well as starfish embryo cell division practice.

Eyepiece

Part 1 of the compound microscope located at the top of the instrument.

Nosepiece

Part 2 of the compound microscope that holds and rotates the objective lenses.

Objective Lenses

Part 3 of the compound microscope, consisting of multiple lenses of varying power.

Stage Clips

Part 4 of the compound microscope used to hold the slide in place on the stage.

Stage

Part 5 of the compound microscope where the slide is added for viewing.

Diaphragm

Part 6 of the compound microscope located beneath the stage.

Light Source

Part 7 of the compound microscope that provides illumination, associated with Nikon models.

Base

Part 8 of the compound microscope that forms the bottom support of the unit.

Arm

Part 9 of the compound microscope connecting the base to the optical components.

Condenser Lens

Part 10 of the compound microscope positioned beneath the stage.

Coarse Adjustment Knob

Part 11 of the compound microscope used to focus the image when using the lowest-powered lens.

Fine Adjustment Knob

Part 12 of the compound microscope used to focus the image, and the only knob to focus with when using the highest power.

Lowest-Powered Lens

The initial lens that should be snapped into place while starting with the stage all the way down.

Starfish Embryo Cell Division

A practice topic involving the identification of cell division stages in numbered cells of a starfish embryo, attributed to CW.P. Armstrong 2001.