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Microscope Parts and Functions

Condenser

  • Collects the light from the light source and focuses it on the specimen.

Arm

  • Connects the head of the microscope to the base.
  • Used to assist in carrying the microscope.

Base

  • Bottom of the microscope that provides support for the microscope.
  • Houses the light source.

Coarse focus adjustment knob

  • Used to focus on the specimen.
  • Note: should only be used with the scanning objective lens.

Condenser focus knob

  • Moves the condenser up and down.
  • Controls the focus of the light on the specimen.

Eyepiece

  • Houses the ocular lens.
  • The component you look through at the top of the microscope.

Fine focus adjustment knob

  • Used to fine tune the focus.
  • Used with higher power objective lenses.
  • Note: Using only this knob with higher power objective lenses helps prevent driving the objective lens into the slide, which could damage the lens or break the slide.

Iris diaphragm

  • Controls the amount of light reaching the specimen.
  • Note: It is an adjustable lever; as you increase objective magnification, you will need more light.
  • You must adjust this lever to ensure adequate contrast between the specimen and the background.

Mechanical stage

  • Platform where a microscope slide containing the specimen is placed.
  • May be moved utilizing mechanical stage control knobs to move the slide around.

Objective lens

  • Primary source of magnification; available as scanning, low, high, and oil-immersed.
  • Oil immersion objective lens requires immersion oil to prevent loss of light due to refraction, preserving resolution and detail.
  • A drop of immersion oil is added to the slide before rotating the oil-immersed lens.
  • Dry objective lenses include scanning, low, and high power lenses; they do not require oil.
  • Note: When viewing a specimen, begin with the lowest power objective lens and progress to higher powers.

Ocular lens

  • Located within the eyepiece.

Revolving nosepiece

  • Houses the objective lenses.
  • Rotates to select the different objective lenses.

Stage control knobs

  • Move the mechanical stage or stage clips to reposition the slide.
  • These knobs help locate items not in the field of view or to center the specimen within the field of view.