Important Notes on Microscopy

A collection of flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to microscopy, including magnification, resolution, types of microscopy, and historical figures.

Magnification

The process of enlarging the apparent size of an object.

Resolution

Defined as the closest spacing of two points that can be distinguished as separate entities.

Robert Hooke

Coined the term 'cell' after observing cork under a microscope in the 17th century.

Cell Theory

The theory that all new cells come from pre-existing cells, established 20 years after Hooke's observations.

Micrometers

A unit of measurement equivalent to one millionth of a meter, commonly used to measure cell size.

Ribosomes size

Approximately 20 nanometers in size.

Light Microscopy

A technique that uses visible light and lenses to magnify images of small samples.

Electron Microscopy

A technique that uses electrons to achieve higher resolution images than light microscopy.

Fluorescence

A process where a substance absorbs light and then re-emits it at a different wavelength.

Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)

A type of electron microscopy that provides detailed images of specimens' surfaces.

Pros and Cons of Electron Microscopy

Provides high-resolution images, but samples must be dead and preparation is complex.