Microscopy and Staining

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to microscopy and staining techniques, providing essential definitions and functions necessary for understanding microbial classification and microscopy.

Microbial Classification

The system used to categorize living organisms and infectious agents.

Binomial Nomenclature

A formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts.

Domains of Living Organisms

The three primary classifications of life: Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya.

Light Microscope

An optical instrument that uses visible light to magnify images of small samples.

Magnification

The process of enlarging the appearance of an object using lenses.

Resolution

The minimum distance between two distinguishable points in a microscopic image.

Contrast

The difference in light intensity between the image and the background in microscopy.

Simple Stain

A technique that uses a single dye to color cells for microscopy.

Negative Stain

A staining technique that colors the background, leaving the cells clear.

Differential Stain

Staining technique that allows differentiation of bacterial species based on their cell wall properties.

Gram Staining Steps

A four-step process that includes crystal violet, iodine, alcohol, and safranin.

Ocular Lens

The part of a microscope that you look through; typically magnifies images 10 times.

Objective Lens

Lenses on a microscope with different magnifying abilities, usually ranging from 4x to 100x.

Condenser Lens

Lens that focuses light onto the specimen.

Iris Diaphragm Lever

Device that adjusts the amount of light entering the objective lens.

Total Magnification Formula

Total magnification = ocular lens magnification x objective lens magnification.

Oil Immersion

A technique in microscopy that uses a special oil to enhance resolution at high magnifications.

Electron Microscope

A microscope that uses electrons for imaging, capable of much higher magnifications than light microscopes.

Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)

Produces 3D images of a specimen's surface using electron microscopy.

Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM)

A type of electron microscope that transmits electrons through a specimen.

Atomic Force Microscope

A type of scanning probe microscope that provides high-resolution topographic maps.

Smegma,

A thick, greasy or sticky substance that can accumulate in body crevices.

Antibodies

Proteins produced by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign objects like bacteria and viruses.

Acid-Fast Stain

A staining technique that distinguishes acid-fast bacteria from non-acid-fast bacteria.

Hans Christian Gram

Danish bacteriologist known for developing the Gram stain method.

Friedrich Neelsen

German pathologist who helped develop the acid-fast staining method.

Franz Ziehl

A German bacteriologist who assisted in developing the acid-fast stain.

Light Source

The part of a microscope that provides illumination for viewing specimens.

Mounting Medium

A substance in which specimens are suspended and viewed under a microscope.

Staining

The process of applying a dye to biological specimens to enhance contrast in microscopic images.

Light Microscope Resolution

Typically has a resolution limit of about 0.2 micrometers.

Fluorescence Microscope

Uses fluorescent dyes to increase contrast. It can reveal specific structures within cells.

Air Dry

The process of letting a specimen dry before heat-fixing it to a slide.

Heat Fixing

The process of passing a slide through a flame to adhere cells to the glass.

Gram-Positive Bacteria

Bacteria that retain the crystal violet stain used in the Gram-staining protocol.

Gram-Negative Bacteria

Bacteria that lose the crystal violet stain and appear pink after Gram staining.

Staining Techniques

Different methods used to add color to cells in microscopy for better visibility.

Steps of Gram Staining

A systematic method involving crystal violet, iodine, alcohol, and safranin.

Contrasting Backgrounds

Using different light levels or colors to improve visibility of specimens under a microscope.

Coarse Focus Knob

Used to make large adjustments in focus when viewing a specimen.

Fine Focus Knob

Used for making small adjustments in focus for detailed viewing.

Microscopic Measurement Units

Nanometer (nm), micrometer (μm), and millimeter (mm) are units used to measure small objects.

Ultraviolet Light

Light in the electromagnetic spectrum that has shorter wavelengths than visible light; used in fluorescence microscopy.

Compound Microscope

A microscope that uses multiple lenses to magnify a specimen.

Mitochondria

Organelles in eukaryotic cells responsible for energy production.

Prokaryotic Cells

Single-celled organisms that lack a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.

Eukaryotic Cells

Complex cells with a nucleus and organelles, including protozoa, fungi, and higher organisms.

Viruses

Infectious agents that require a host cell to replicate.

Atomic Force Microscopy

A technique for imaging surfaces at the atomic level using a mechanical probe.

Mycobacterium spp.

A genus of bacteria that includes pathogens causing tuberculosis and leprosy.

Slide with Stage Clips

A part of the microscope that holds the slide in place during observation.

Rheostat

A device that controls light intensity in a microscope.

Pathologist

A medical professional who specializes in diagnosing diseases through examination of tissues and cells.