Exercise #10

The Microscope
Introduction
The microscope revolutionized the way zoologists study, identify, classify, and describe well
small members of the kingdom Animalia. It has enabled research on entities which cannot be seen by
the unaided eye. The simple microscope is similar to the magnifying glass for it is composed of one
lens only. In comparison, the compound microscope has two lenses at opposite ends of a tube. The
one close to the eye is termed as the ocular lens, while the one near the specimen is called the
objective lens. The microscopes you will encounter in your study are relatively more sophisticated
than those of its predecessors.
Enlarged and magnified views of microscopic species of plants, animals, fungi, protists, and bacteria
allow you to examine their minute structures. Even with macroscopic organisms, you will be able to
study the details of some of their organs and tissues with the aid of the microscope. Most
microorganisms studied under a microscope are measured in micrometers which is 1/1000 of a
millimeter.
Objectives
The main objectives of this exercise are to:
1. identify and explain the function of each part of the microscope; and
2. describe the features of a microscope.
I. Using a Dissecting Microscope
A dissecting microscope is useful when viewing a whole specimen of small organisms or
separate body parts. Its use is highly recommended when a 5x to 50x magnification is desired. It is
important to first acquaint yourselves with its basic parts. This will help you maximize the visualization
of the objects you are going to magnify. The microscope you are going to use could be a binocular
microscope which has two ocular lenses. The field of view is the space you see when you look into a
microscope. A light source in the microscope can be directed two ways: downwards onto the object
and up through the object. By enabling to transmission of light, you can visualize objects that are
thick. You can also “zoom in or out” an object if your microscope has knobs on its sides. You should
carry a dissecting microscope by its arm using one hand.
A dissecting microscope with a built-in illuminator contains the following identifiable parts:
1. A light switch turns on the illuminator.
2. The illumination control knob rotates to enable refection or transmission of light. In other
microscopes, the reflection and transmission control are combined. Transmission refers to the
light that travels in an upward direction to the specimen, whereas reflection refers to the light
directed on a downward direction into the specimen from which it is bended in an upward
direction into the microscope. You can get the best illumination for your specimen if you rotate
the knob when visualizing.
3. Oculars move together or apart to allow adjustment according to your own level of comfort
when looking into the microscope. The two fields should overlap completely so that you see a
single circle of light.
4. The “zoom” knob allows you to control magnification. It is found next to the oculars on the
microscope’s body. Some microscope also have revolving objectives/
 5. The stage is where you place your slide which contains the specimen you will be examining.
6. The focus knob can be turned for sharpness of focus.
Specimens are never placed directly on the stage of the microscope. They should be fixed in a
glass slide first. After they have been secured in the slide, you are then ready to visualize the
image.
Materials
• dissecting microscope
• ampalaya seeds
• glass slide
Procedure
1. Put an ampalaya seed on the slide and focus under the dissecting microscope.
2. Switch on the light to illuminate the specimen, then rotate the illuminating knob while looking
through the oculars.
3. Move the "zoom" knob to control the magnification. If it has objectives, you can choose the
desired magnification power.
4. Draw the seed as seen under the dissecting microscope.

Parts of a Compound Microscope

Mechanical Parts
a. The arm serves to support the body tube. It is important that you grasp the microscope by the arm
when transferring the microscope to another place. You must keep it upright and support it
underneath using your free hand.
b. The base provides firm and steady support to the entire microscope.
c. The stage is where the slide is placed. The slide is supported and secured in place by stage clips.
It has a hole so that light can shine up through the at the specimen. To facilitate viewing of the
specimen, you should always place it at the center of the hole.
d. Stage clips hold the specimen firmly on stage.
e. The pillar is the support or post of the base where the arm is attached.
f. The nosepiece is the revolving part to which objectives are attached. It is necessary to firmly click it
into position when the objective is changed. Rough use can cause it to snap off.
g. The body tube connects the nosepiece to the ocular lens.
h. The coarse adjustment knob moves the body tube or stage in an upward or downward direction.
This knob is utilized only with the low power or scanning objective.
i. The fine adjustment knob moves either the body tube or the stage in an upward or downward
direction to correctly position the specimen so that it can be focused perfectly.
j. The light source is usually a small electric light beneath the stage that is controlled by a push-
button light switch. A mirror can also be used to reflect light from another source into the microscope.
k. The iris diaphragm regulates how much light and lamp heat pass through the specimen. It can be
controlled using a lever that can be moved in a back and forth motion.
l. The draw tube is the small cylinder attached to the upper part of the body tube that holds the
ocular.
Magnifying Parts
a. The ocular lens or eyepiece is a detachable cylinder located at the upper end of the tube. It
may have a line inside that serves as a pointer. It rotates as the ocular is rotated. It is capable
of magnifying objects up to 10X. This lens is Often unattached and it can fall off anytime. It is
therefore important to keep the microscope in an upright position.
b. There are three objective lenses in a microscope. The low power objective (LPO) can
provide 10x magnifying power. This provides the smallest image. The high power objective
(HPO) gives a large image of up to 40x. The oil immersion objective (OIO) gives the largest
image up to 1000x. In some microscope, a very low power scan objective of up to4x replaces
the oil immersion lens. Objective lenses are always used in the following order. LPO, HPO,
and OIO.
. IlluminatingParts
a. The condenser is a lens located above the diaphragm. It concentrates light before passing
through the specimen. Knobs are provided to adjust its position.
b. The mirror is found below the stage near the base. It is double-sided, one surface is concave,
while the other is a plane. It is used to collect light and direct it to the object, and then reflect it
to the eyes.

II. Viewing the Letter “e”

It is important to develop familiarity in using a microscope. This can be achieved by practice
viewings of prepared slide of the letter “e”, or any actual specimen. Follow the next steps carefully to
improve your microscope viewing skills.

Materials
Compound Microscope
Prepared slide of the letter “e” or any specimen
Glass slide
Cover slip
Lens paper

Procedure
1. Turn the revolving nosepiece so the LPO is clicked into position.
2. Use the coarse adjustment knob to raise the ocular lens or to lower the stage (in some
microscopes) as far down as possible.
3. Place the slide on the stage and turn the letter “e” in its normal position over the hole in the
stage.
4. Look through the microscope then adjust the diaphragm lever and condenser knob to allow
enough light to pass through and make the field bright.
5. Position yourself as the side of the microscope. Turn the coarse adjustment knob to lower the
objective lens as close to slide as possible, but avoid contact between the two.
6. Look into the microscope and slowly turn the coarse adjustment knob in the opposite direction
so that the objective lens moves away from the slide.
7. Continue turning until the letter "e" comes into focus. Remember that the coarse adjustment
knob is utilized only with the LPO.
8. Use the fine adjustment knob to bring the specimen into perfect focus.
9. Move the slide a little away from you while observing the specimen in the microscope.
10. Next, move the slide up and down, left to right, and note that the inverted image always moves
in the opposite direction.
11. It is now time to shift into higher magnification. Turn the nosepiece to move the HPO into
viewing position. Remember that the field of view will be smaller as the magnification
increases. When you take a closer look under a greater magnification, You will be able to see
less and less of the specimen. As the field of view becomes smaller, there will also be a
decrease in the depth of field. The thickness of the part ot the specimen in focus is larger
under low power objective so it is easier to use diaphragm is closed down to reduce
illumination.
12. Use the fine adjustment knob to perfectly focus the image. Remember, you should not use the
coarse adjustment knob for HPO viewing. The amount of light can also be increased to have a
clearer view.
13. Should you not see anything in the field, it may mean that you have not centered the image
properly. In such a case, you need to return to low power, center the image, and then switch
back to high power.
14. Study the details of the letter or the specimen. Move the slide several times to explore different
areas.