Microscopy Basics

Flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to microscopy and microscope operation.

Koehler illumination

An alignment method for a microscope that allows bright, even illumination of a specimen, maximizing image resolution.

Resolution

The ability of a microscope to distinguish two close objects as separate.

Contrast

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

Ocular lens

The lens through which the viewer looks at the specimen; it can include a pointer or measuring scale.

Objective lens

The lens that first magnifies the specimen's image; it can have different levels of magnification.

Coarse focus knob

A large knob used to make significant adjustments to bring a specimen into focus.

Fine focus knob

A smaller knob used to make precise adjustments to the focus of a specimen.

Iris diaphragm

An adjustable device that controls the amount of light passing through the specimen.

Stage clips

Clips that hold the slide in place on the stage of the microscope.

Total magnification

The product of the magnification of the ocular lens and the objective lens used.

Scanning objective

The microscope's lowest power objective, typically 4x magnification, used to locate specimens.

Micropipette

A laboratory tool used to measure and transfer small volumes of liquid, often used in preparing slides.

Methylene blue

A stain that binds to negatively charged molecules in cells, used for viewing structures like DNA.

Field of view

The extent of the observable area seen through the microscope eyepiece.

Binocular microscope

A microscope with two ocular lenses, allowing for 3D visualization of specimens.