Lab Notes: Microscope, Cell Organelles, and Cell Cycle

Vocabulary flashcards covering microscope optics, cell structures, plasma membrane components, and the cell cycle based on Chapter 2 lab notes.

Microscope

An instrument used to view small objects (from micro = small, scope = to view).

Compound Light Microscope

A microscope that uses visible light to illuminate the specimen and more than one lens to magnify it.

Ocular lens

The eyepiece lens of a microscope, which has a magnification of $10\times$.

Scanning objective

An objective lens with a magnification of $4\times$, providing a total magnification of $40\times$ when paired with a $10\times$ ocular lens.

Low-power objective

An objective lens with a magnification of $10\times$, providing a total magnification of $100\times$ when paired with a $10\times$ ocular lens.

High-power objective

An objective lens with a magnification of $40\times$, providing a total magnification of $400\times$ when paired with a $10\times$ ocular lens.

Total magnification

Calculated as: $\text{Total magnification} = \text{ocular lens magnification} \times \text{objective lens magnification}$.

Resolution

The clarity of an image; specifically, the ability to distinguish nearby points as separate.

Working distance

The distance between the objective lens and the specimen or stage when the specimen is in focus.

Depth of field

The thickness or depth of the specimen that remains in focus at one time.

Field of view

The area of the specimen visible through the microscope.

Cytoplasm

The entire contents inside the cell membrane excluding the nucleus, consisting of cytosol plus organelles.

Cytosol

The fluid portion inside the cell.

Organelles

Specialized structures within cells that perform specific functions.

Plasma membrane

A phospholipid bilayer structure surrounding the cell.

Hydrophilic head

The region of a phospholipid molecule that is attracted to water, facing outward toward watery environments.

Hydrophobic tail

The region of a phospholipid molecule that avoids/repels water, pointing inward toward other tails in the bilayer.

Extracellular fluid (ECF)

The fluid located outside of the cells.

Glycoprotein

A structure composed of a carbohydrate attached to a protein.

Glycolipid

A structure composed of a carbohydrate attached to a lipid.

Glyco-

A word cue prefix meaning carbohydrate or sugar.

Interphase

The growth phase of the cell cycle during which the cell grows, prepares for division, and replicates its DNA.

Mitosis

The process in the cell cycle during which the nucleus divides.

Cytokinesis

The process in the cell cycle during which the cytoplasm divides.

PMAT

A mnemonic for the four sequential stages of mitosis: Prophase, Metaphase, Anaphase, Telophase.