Perform Microscopic Examination Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering microscope components, Kohler illumination alignment, safety hazards, plant tissue preparations, artefacts, specialized microscopy, sample tracking, and legal responsibilities.

Diopter Ring

A microscope component used to adjust the focus specifically for the user's eye.

Eyepiece Tube

The structural tube on a microscope that holds the eyepiece in place.

Revolving Nosepiece

The rotating mechanism on a microscope used to switch between different objective lenses.

Condenser

A microscope component located beneath the stage that focuses the light beam directly onto the sample.

Coaxial Stage Controls

Knobs used to move the microscope stage horizontally along the X and Y axes.

Low-Power Objective

An objective lens providing a larger field of view and greater working distance, making it safer and easier to locate and focus specimens prior to higher magnification.

Kohler Illumination Field Diaphragm (FD) Alignment

A setup step where the FD is closed completely, the condenser height is adjusted until the FD image forms a sharp decagon, the decagon is centered using silver screws, and the FD is opened until just outside the field of view.

Microscope Ergonomic Setup

Practices to reduce strain, including placing the microscope at least $10\text{ cm}$ from the bench edge, keeping feet flat or on the chair edge, and adjusting chair height.

Biological Spill Disinfection

The application of $70\%$ isopropyl alcohol/ethanol, $2\%$ bleach (hypochlorite), or $10\%$ lysol covered with paper towels or vermiculite for $20\text{--}30\text{ min}$ after securing glass or sharps with tongs.

Out of Service Tag

A safety tag applied to faulty equipment that has been unplugged from power, recording the fault, signature, and date; it remains until an authorized person or technician removes it.

Onion Epidermal Cell

A plant cell tissue specimen prepared with iodine or saline stain, displaying a closely packed, uniform rectangular lattice structure with a visible nucleus.

Sclerenchyma Cell (Pear)

A plant cell type found in pear flesh prepared with phloroglucinol stain, characterized by densely clustered, non-uniform polygonal shapes, thick cell walls, a central lumen, and no nucleus.

Parenchyma Cell (Tomato)

A plant cell type found in tomato flesh stained with iodine, characterized by round, free-floating cells with thin cell walls, large cytoplasm, and a small nucleus near the cell wall.

Artefact (Microscopy)

Unwanted marks, objects, or bubbles visible under a microscope that are not a true structural part of the natural sample.

Air Bubble Prevention

Techniques to eliminate air bubbles under a cover slip, such as applying the coverslip at a $45^\circ$ angle, adding extra sample to the edge, or drawing out air with a paper towel.

Stain Precipitate

An artefact prevented by preparing fresh stain, filtering the stain prior to use, keeping covers on stain containers, and cleaning staining cassettes and glassware.

Wet Specimen Observation

Microscopic examination of fluid or unstained samples, best observed with the condenser position dropped down.

Bright Field Microscope

A standard laboratory microscope producing an image on a bright background, commonly used for viewing plant cells, counting yeast, and examining stained or unstained cells.

Dark Field Microscope

A microscope that produces a bright image on a dark background to increase contrast without staining, ideal for observing bacterial motility, protozoa, and external cell outlines.

Phase Contrast Microscope

A microscope utilizing light refraction and interference to produce high-contrast, high-resolution images of living cells in their natural state without staining.

Fluorescent Microscope

A microscope using a mercury or xenon lamp to produce specific wavelengths of UV light to locate specific molecules or identify pathogens.

Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)

An electron microscope using electron beams to produce 3D images to visualize sample surface details.

Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM)

An electron microscope using electron beams to produce 2D images to visualize internal structures, such as viruses.

Polarising Microscope

A microscope using single-wavelength light and polarizing filters, utilized in geology, mineral analysis, kidney stone evaluation, and crystal or drug composition analysis.

Stereo Microscope

A dissecting microscope with two separate optical tubes that produces a 3D image, used for micro-dissection, inspecting insects, or watchmaking.

Sample Tracking

The process of recording sample identity, handler, location, and processing status to ensure traceability, sample integrity, and chain of custody (COC).

Sample Label Writing Instrument

A pencil, used on slide and sample labels because laboratory alcohol will erase standard ink pen marks.

Health Services Act 2016 (WA)

Western Australian statutory legislation governing legal standards and health service responsibilities alongside the Privacy and Responsible Information sharing Act 2024.