BiMi 2

Light Microscopy

A technique that uses visible light to illuminate specimens and magnify images through glass lenses.

Sample Preparation

The process of collecting, fixing, and staining samples for visualization under a microscope.

Fixation

The process of preserving biological samples by preventing post-mortem degradation and maintaining their natural structure.

Chromophore

An atom or group within a molecule that absorbs light and is responsible for the color of the compound.

Auxochrome

Groups in a dye that can affect its color by altering the electron cloud and enhancing its binding capacity.

Histological Samples

Tissues prepared for microscope examination, requiring selection, collection, and fixation.

Embedding

The process of enclosing a specimen in a material that hardens, allowing for thin sectioning.

Haematoxylin

A natural dye used for staining cell nuclei, often used in combination with mordants.

Phase Contrast Microscopy

A microscopy technique that enhances contrasts in transparent samples by manipulating the phase of light waves.

Immunostaining

A technique that uses antibodies to visualize specific proteins in tissue samples, often with fluorescent detection.

Fluorophore

A compound that absorbs light at a specific wavelength and emits it at a longer wavelength, often used in fluorescence microscopy.

Mordant

A substance used to fix dyes onto tissues, often metal salts that help form covalent bonds with dye.

Regressive Staining

Staining method where the tissue is overstained and then destained to achieve the desired tone.

Progressive Staining

Staining method where the tissue is stained until the right color and structure differentiation is achieved.

Dyes

Colored organic compounds used in microscopy to stain biological tissues and facilitate visualization.

Electron Microscopy

A microscopy technique that uses high-energy electrons to achieve higher resolution imaging than light microscopy.

Cytospinning

A method for preparing suspension cell samples by spinning them onto a slide.

Diffusion Constant

A measure of how quickly a fixative can penetrate and influence the tissue sample.

Fluorescence Microscopy

A technique that uses fluorescence instead of transmitted light to illuminate specimens.

Antibodies

Proteins produced by the immune system that specifically bind to foreign molecules or cells, used in immunostaining.

Tissue Clearing

The process of removing lipids from tissue to make it more transparent for visualization.

Lightfield Microscopy

A type of light microscopy that allows for three-dimensional imaging of samples.

Live Cell Imaging

A microscopy technique that allows for real-time observation of living cells.

Polarity

The orientation of the oscillation plane of light waves, which can affect how light interacts with objects.

Counterstaining

A technique that uses a secondary dye to enhance the visibility of certain structures within a sample.

Osmium Tetroxide

A fixative used in electron microscopy that cross-links proteins and provides good contrast.

Chromatic Aberration

An optical phenomenon where a lens fails to focus all colors to the same convergence point.

Interference Contrast Microscopy

A microscopy method that enhances contrast using polarized light by splitting it into two beams.