Compound Light Microscope Vocabulary

Vocabulary review flashcards covering parts, functions, specifications, and key optical concepts of compound light microscopes.

Ocular Lens

The lens through which a user looks to view the slide, typically providing a magnification power of $10\times$.

Field of View

The circular area of the slide visible when looking through the ocular lenses.

Scanning Objective Lens

An objective lens providing a magnification power of $5\times$.

Low-power Objective Lens

An objective lens providing a magnification power of $10\times$.

High-power Objective Lens

An objective lens providing a magnification power of $40\times$.

Oil-immersion Objective Lens

An objective lens providing a magnification power of $100\times$.

Nosepiece

The revolving part of the microscope to which the objective lenses are attached.

Stage

The flat surface on which the slide sits, equipped with stage clips to hold the slide in place.

Mechanical Stage Adjustment Knobs

Controls that allow the user to move the slide position left/right and forward/backward on the stage.

Arm

The structural portion of the microscope supporting the head and body, typically housing the adjustment knobs.

Coarse Adjustment Knob

The large knob that moves the stage up and down to change distance from the objective lens and provide gross focusing.

Fine Adjustment Knob

The smaller knob used to allow precise focusing and fine-tuning of the image.

Lamp (Illuminator)

The light source positioned at the base of the microscope that illuminates the specimen.

Light Adjustment Dial

The knob that controls the brightness and intensity of the illuminator lamp.

Condenser

A lens positioned below the stage that concentrates light onto the specimen.

Iris Diaphragm

A mechanism located beneath the condenser that regulates the amount of light passing through the slide.

Working Distance

The distance between the objective lens and the specimen on the slide.

Total Magnification Power

The total enlargement of an image, calculated by multiplying ocular lens magnification by objective lens magnification.

Depth of Field

The vertical thickness or depth of a specimen that is in sharp focus at one time.