Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
1
COMPOUND MONOCULAR
MICROSCOPE
The microscope is one of the principal tools of the biologist. It was invented through the efforts of Dutch scientist
Anton Van Leeuwenhoek. In the laboratory, the microscope serves as a very useful tool to help you discover the
fascinating secrets of the living world which the unaided eye cannot see. In this exercise, you will study the proper use
and care of this delicate instrument.
OBJECTIVES
At the end of the period, students should be able to:
1. identify the parts of a compound microscope and learn the function of each part;
2. manipulate the different parts correctly.
3. compute for the magnification of drawing.
4. differentiate the low power objective from the high power objective in relation to the size of the field of
vision, magnification, and resolving power.
MATERIALS
compound microscope
glass slide
cover slip
colored threads
PROCEDURE:
Before studying the different parts of your microscope, bear in mind the following points:
1. Other students in different classes also use your microscope. Always inspect it before using and report to the
instructor any damage you can see.
2. The microscope is a delicate and expensive instrument. Exercise utmost care when using it so that other
students will be able to use it too.
3. Manipulate the microscope only when you are thoroughly familiar with it.
A. Identification of the Microscope Parts
1. Using Figures 1 and 2 as a guide, identify the different parts of your microscope and learn the function of
each.
2.
Ocular or eyepiece. It is where you look into when examining objects in the microscope. Inserted into the
draw tube, it contains lenses to increase magnification.
Draw tube. A cylindrical part where the eyepiece is inserted.
Body tube. The barrel which holds the lenses of the eyepiece and objectives at a proper distance from each
other.
Coarse adjustment knob. A large wheel which moves the body tube up or down to bring the specimen into
focus. It is used when the low power objective is in place.
Fine adjustment knob. A smaller wheel which brings the specimen to its sharpest focus by moving the body
tube up or down very slightly.
Dust shield. A rounded metal directly attached to the end of the body tube which protects the objectives from
dust.
Revolving nosepiece. The bottom end of the body tube where the objectives are attached. It rotates to allow
changing from one objective to another.
Objectives. Small tubes attached to the nosepiece which contain lenses of different magnifications. The
objective marked 10x is the low power objective (LPO). Sometimes a much shorter objective marked 4x or 5x may be
present; this is known as the scanning objective. The high power objective (HPO) is the one marked 40x (44x or 45x
in some models). More advance microscope models also have the oil immersion objective (100x).
Stage. The flat area where the slide to be examined is placed.
Stage aperture. The hole or opening at the center of the stage. It admits light from the mirror.
Stage clips. Two pieces of metal which holds the slide in place.
Arm. Supports the body tube and is used for carrying the microscope.
Mirror. Directs reflected light through the stage aperture to light the specimen in the slide. It usually has a
concave and flat surface. The concave surface is used especially when the microscope does not have a condenser. (The
condenser is a series of lenses below the stage that helps focus light on the specimen). If a condenser is present, the
flat-surfaced mirror may be used. In some microscopes, a lamp provides the light source instead of the mirror.
Pillar. The upright bar which provides support and connects the base with the other part of the microscope,
Diaphragm. Regulates the amount of light passing through the specimen. The diaphragm may be in the
form of a rotating disk with holes of various sizes, or it may have an adjustable iris opening. In the latter case, it is
known as an iris diaphragm.
Inclination joint. Allows the microscope to be inclined at an angle.
Base. The horseshoe-shaped bottom part of the microscope which supports the whole structure.
Table 1. Characteristics of the objectives:
LPO
HPO
OIO
4.
Slowly turn the coarse adjustment knob downward to lower the body tube until the tip of the LPO almost
touches the slide. Do this while looking from the side to prevent the unlikely event of breaking the slide.
While looking into the ocular, slowly turn the coarse adjustment knob upward to raise the LPO until the
letter comes into focus. Turn the fine adjustment knob slightly to obtain a sharp image of the letter.
a.
Draw the letter "e" in its normal size and position, and as seen under the LPO.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
Questions to Answer:
1. How can each objective be identified if the identification marks are removed?
2. How does a microscope magnify an object?
3. Explain why an inverted image is seen under a compound microscope?
4. What is the purpose of the oil in the oil immersion objective?
5. Why should the ocular micrometer be calibrated for each objective?
References:
Duka. I. A. and M. G. Diaz. 2007. Biology 1 Laboratory Manual: An Investigative Approach. 8 th ed. UPLB. pp. 6 13.
Fernandez, W.L. et al. 1986. General Microbiology Laboratory Manual. UPLB. pp. 1 15. UST General Microbiology
Manual