Microscope Parts and their Functions

We all have used a microscope at some point of our lives and many of us would still be using it to facilitate their researches and studies. Microscope is one of the most commonly used equipment in the field of microscopic study. Contrary to popular beliefs that microscope is equipment just for researchers and medical professionals, Microscope serves to a wide interest audience. We have just narrowed our spectrum towards this invention, probably one of the best till date. It is the invention of microscope which gave birth to so many inventions like microbiology and study of microorganisms and their metabolism. But I’d like to grab an opportunity to bring to everyone’s notice that microscopes are not just to study microorganisms or medical samples. A microscope can be used by anyone who wishes to magnify an object very small or invisible to naked eye of humans.

A microscope is used by jewelers to deliver perfection to the jewelry they designs, it is used by researchers to study about the component of rocks, sand particles, it is used by a Veterinarian to study samples of animals and so on. All of these studies are made simpler and accurate with a help of a microscope. In the recent years, schools all over the world have inculcated studies related to microorganisms and human cell in the curriculum, exposing the students to microscopes at an early age which has, as a result, enhanced the interest and knowledge of students relating to microscopes which helps them later on in professional studies. It is very important as well as interesting for a student to understand the working of cells present in the human body and how they look like and with the help of microscopes; the students have the accurate image of cells like cheek cells and onion cells at an early edge.

We all know what a microscope looks like. We all have used microscopes. But we fail to understand that microscope is a complex set of apparatus combined together to make our research easy. But to know better about microscopic studies, it is strongly suggested to know your basic equipment, the microscope well. As it is said that before fighting a battle, one should know how to use their weapons well.  Similarly, before studying about or carrying ahead with your studies, it is suggested to know the parts of microscopes and how they help you in deriving better results. So let’s discuss some of the most important parts of microscopes and their usage:

1.    Eyepiece or Ocular lens:

An eyepiece is a magnifying lens attached to the microscope which helps in magnifying the sample object. It is called an eye piece as we need to place our eye on it in order to see the magnifying image of the sample. It is placed near the focal point of the mirror, or as we call it in the technical language, an objective, to magnify the sample.  As per the area of study, the power of lens can be determined. For example: A jeweler microscope has a much lower magnification power than a biological microscope.

2.    Body Tube:

A body tube is an integral part of the microscope as it holds the eye piece and connects it to the objective.

3.    Arm:

The arm is the part of microscope that connects to the base and helps carry the microscope easily. One can hold the arm with on hand and put another hand under the base of the microscope so that it can be carried easily.

4.    Base:

The base is the bottom part of the microscope, usually made up of durable material as it supports the microscope to stand and provides stability. The base is very important as stability is very important to gain accurate results. With an unstable base, the results may not be as accurate as we require.

5.    Illuminator:

An illuminator is a source of light usually situated at the bottom/ base of the microscope. It is a low voltage halogen bulb of about 110 volts to provide steady light to the sample in order to facilitate the experiment/study.

6.    Stage:

A stage is an indispensible part of the microscope. It is a flat surface where the slide with the specimen is placed. A mechanical stage is a stage used when working with higher magnifications. It is moved by using knobs as even the slightest moment can affect the results.

7.    Stage Clip:

Stage clips are used to hold the slides in place in the absence of a mechanical stage. It is used in comparatively simpler experiments. But even in simpler experiments, the movement of slides is crucial hence stage clips are used to provide stability to the slides.

8.    Revolving Nosepiece or Turret:

A nosepiece is the part of the microscope which holds two or more objectives simultaneously to provide various magnifications in order to view the same specimen in various dimensions.

9.    Objective lens:

Objective lens is the part of microscope responsible for magnifying the image of specimen. Usually there are three objective lenses in a standard microscope of 10X, 40X and 100X. Depending upon the aim of study and nature of the specimen, the most suitable objective lens can be brought to use.

10.    Rack Stop:
It is a part of the microscope responsible for adjusting and determining the distance between the objective lens and the specimen. It is very important as it avoids the ramming of objective lens into the slide, which can result in destroying the slide and specimen.

11.    Condenser Lens:

The function of the condenser lens is to collect the light from the illuminator and focus it on the specimen. A microscope with a condenser provides with a sharper and clearer image than a microscope without a condenser.

12.    Diaphragm or Iris:

The diaphragm is used to control the amount of light reaching the specimen. It is a rotating disk under the stage and above the condenser. There are various holes in the diaphragm in order to facilitate the variants in the experiments carried on.

13.    Coarse adjustment knob:

A coarse adjustment knob is a knob present on the arm of a microscope. The main function of this knob is to move the specimen back or forth to adjust the slide containing specimen in order to bring it to focus and show the best image possible. The coarse adjustment should be carefully moved and adjusted to attain desired results.

14.    Fine Adjustment Knob:

This knob is a sub part of the Coarse adjustment knob. It is used to bring the specimen into sharp focus.

15.    Power Switch:

A Power switch is an electrical switch present at the bottom of the microscope in order to switch of the light source i.e., the illuminator. At times the researcher/user does not require the light from illuminator. In such a case, the power switch can be used to turn off the illuminator.

16.    Low Power Objective:

Low Power objective is a short length objective, most widely used in the microscopes to view slides. Usually the experiments carried, use low power objective until the study of the specimen is very specific. Also due to the short length of the objective, it avoids ramming into the slide and protecting it from breaking.

17.    High Power Objective:

High power objective, also known as high-dry objective is used to study a specimen in very fine and detailed manner. It is a bit longer in length than the low power objective and needs to be handled with care.

18.    Specimen on the Glass slide:

A glass slide is a thin and flat piece of glass used in the microscope. The specimen is kept on the glass slide and put under the objective in order to study it. A typical glass slide is of dimensions 75x 26mm and about 1 mm thick. The specimen on the glass slide is further covered with a very thin and smaller sheet of glass called a cover slip so that the specimen doesn’t spill on the glass slide.

19.    Aperture:

Aperture is a small hole in the stage through which the light is transmitted and passed on to the slide.

The above mentioned parts are the basic parts of a microscope. Almost all microscopes use these parts in order to function smoothly. High level studies are carried with the help of modifications in the microscopes like binocular or trinocular lenses, cameras and such additional apparatus. With the advancement in the technology, such add on products are being invented to enhance the microscopic studies. But what we have discussed are the basic parts of a microscope everyone using a microscope should know. It’s always better to befriend a machine before using it in order to get the best results in least time.