Microscopy and The Cell

Flashcards reviewing key vocabulary terms related to microscopy and cell biology.

Cell Theory

The cell is the structural and functional unit of life

Magnification

Making something small look bigger

Resolution

Being able to distinguish two points as being separate

Contrast

Differences in light and dark in different parts of the image

Resolving Power

The smallest distance at which two objects can be successfully distinguished

Condenser lens

Collects light and concentrates it onto the specimen

Iris diaphragm

Adjusts how much light passes through

Coarse focus

Moves the stage significantly up or down

Fine focus

Moves the stage minutely up or down

Working distance

The distance between the specimen (slide) and the objective

Depth of field

The amount or thickness of the specimen in focus

Numerical Aperture

A higher numerical aperture gives a narrower depth of field