Microscope Parts and Functions (Vocabulary Flashcards)

Vocabulary flashcards covering common microscope parts and their functions from Page 1 notes.

Arm

On the vertical side of the microscope; connects the base and body and is used to help carry the microscope.

Base

Rests on a flat surface and supports the microscope; used to help carry the microscope.

Coarse adjustment knob

Used to get the image in focus under scanning or low-power objectives.

Condenser

Concentrates and focuses the amount of light onto the microscope slide.

Diopter adjustment

Adjusts the focus of the eyepiece to compensate for vision differences between the two eyes.

Eyepieces (ocular lenses)

Look through to make observations; magnifies the image 10×.

Fine adjustment knob

Fine-tunes the focus of the image under high-power objective.

Head (body)

Located between eyepiece and rotating nosepiece; provides support and path for light.

Illuminator (light) control

Knob that regulates the brightness of light.

Illuminator (light) switch

Turns on the light bulb.

Iris diaphragm lever

Opens and closes the diaphragm, which adjusts the intensity of light entering the condenser; provides ability to control image contrast.

Mechanical stage

Platform that holds the microscope slide.

Mechanical stage controls

Knobs that move the microscope slide on the stage.

Objective lenses

Scanning, low-power and high-power lenses that magnify the image of an object as it projects light upward into the head.

Rotating nosepiece

Rotates objective lenses into position to achieve different magnifications.

Slide holder finger; stage clips

Secures the microscope slide onto the mechanical stage.

Substage illuminator

Lamp that allows light to enter the condenser, objective lens, and eyepiece.