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Parts of a microscope with

functions and labeled diagram
June 5, 2023 by Faith Mokobi

Edited By: Sagar Aryal

Having been constructed in the 16th Century,

Microscopes have revolutionalized science
with their ability to magnify small objects such
as microbial cells, producing images with
definitive structures that are identifiable and
characterizable.

Table of Contents
What are Microscopes?
Microscope Definition
Structural parts of a microscope and their
functions
Figure: Diagram of parts of a microscope
Optical parts of a microscope and their
functions
Parts of a Microscope Revision Questions
(FAQs)
Q. Define a Microscope.
Q. State functions of a microscope.
Q. Diagrammatically, identify the various
parts of a microscope.
Q. Describe the functions of each part of
the microscope you have drawn above.
Q. Differentiate between a condenser and
an Abbe condenser.
Q. What is the magnification power of the
objective lenses?
Q. How does the eyepiece compare to the
objective lens?
Q. Why is the rack stop included in the
microscope from the factory, and can it be
replaced?
Q. What is a magnification power?
Q. Differentiate between the fine and the
coarse adjustment knobs.
Q. List down the 18 parts of a Microscope.
Q. List down the 3 structural parts of a
microscope.
Microscope Parts Worksheets
1. Light Microscope Free Worksheet
2. Inverted Microscope Free Worksheet
3. Dissecting microscope (Stereo
microscope) Free Worksheet
References

What are Microscopes?

Microscope Definition
Microscopes are instruments that are used in
science laboratories to visualize very minute
objects such as cells, and microorganisms,
giving a contrasting image that is magnified.
Microscopes are made up of lenses for
magnification, each with its own magnification
powers. Depending on the type of lens, it will
magnify the specimen according to its focal
strength.

Their ability to function is because they have

been constructed with special components
that enable them to achieve high
magnification levels. They can view very small
specimens and distinguish their structural
differences, for example, the view of animal
and plant cells, viewing microscopic bacterial
cells.

Microscopes are generally made up of

structural parts for holding and supporting the
microscope and its components and the
optical parts which are used for magnification
and viewing of the specimen images. This
description defines the parts of a microscope
and the functions they perform to enable the
visualization of specimens.

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Structural parts of a microscope and

their functions

parts of a microscope

Figure: Diagram of parts of a

microscope
There are three structural parts of the
microscope i.e. head, base, and arm.

1. Head – This is also known as the body. It

carries the optical parts in the upper part of
the microscope.
2. Base – It acts as microscopes support. It
also carries microscopic illuminators.
3. Arms – This is the part connecting the base
and to the head and the eyepiece tube to
the base of the microscope. It gives support
to the head of the microscope and it is also
used when carrying the microscope. Some
high-quality microscopes have an
articulated arm with more than one joint
allowing more movement of the microscopic
head for better viewing.

Optical parts of a microscope and

their functions
The optical parts of the microscope are used
to view, magnify, and produce an image from a
specimen placed on a slide. These parts
include:

1. Eyepiece – also known as the ocular. This is

the part used to look through the
microscope. Its found at the top of the
microscope. Its standard magnification is
10x with an optional eyepiece having
magnifications from 5X to 30X.
2. Eyepiece tube – it’s the eyepiece holder. It
carries the eyepiece just above the
objective lens. In some microscopes such
as the binoculars, the eyepiece tube is
flexible and can be rotated for maximum
visualization, for variance in distance. For
monocular microscopes, they are none
flexible.
3. Objective lenses – These are the major
lenses used for specimen visualization.
They have a magnification power of 40x-
100X. There are about 1- 4 objective lenses
placed on one microscope, in that some are
rare facing and others face forward. Each
lens has its own magnification power.
4. Nose piece – also known as the revolving
turret. It holds the objective lenses. It is
movable hence it cal revolve the objective
lenses depending on the magnification
power of the lens.
5. The Adjustment knobs – These are knobs
that are used to focus the microscope.
There are two types of adjustment knobs i.e
fine adjustment knobs and coarse
adjustment knobs.
6. Stage – This is the section in which the
specimen is placed for viewing. They have
stage clips that hold the specimen slides in
place. The most common stage is the
mechanical stage, which allows the control
of the slides by moving the slides using the
mechanical knobs on the stage instead of
moving them manually.
7. Aperture – This is a hole on the microscope
stage, through which the transmitted light
from the source reaches the stage.
8. Microscopic illuminator – This is the
microscopes light source, located at the
base. It is used instead of a mirror. It
captures light from an external source of a
low voltage of about 100v.
9. Condenser – These are lenses that are
used to collect and focus light from the
illuminator into the specimen. They are
found under the stage next to the
diaphragm of the microscope. They play a
major role in ensuring clear sharp images
are produced with a high magnification of
400X and above. The higher the
magnification of the condenser, the more
the image clarity. More sophisticated
microscopes come with an Abbe condenser
that has a high magnification of about
1000X.
10. Diaphragm – it’s also known as the iris. Its
found under the stage of the microscope
and its primary role is to control the amount
of light that reaches the specimen. It’s an
adjustable apparatus, hence controlling the
light intensity and the size of the beam of
light that gets to the specimen. For high-
quality microscopes, the diaphragm comes
attached with an Abbe condenser and
combined they are able to control the light
focus and light intensity that reaches the
specimen.
11. Condenser focus knob – this is a knob that
moves the condenser up or down thus
controlling the focus of light on the
specimen.
12. Abbe Condenser – this is a condenser
specially designed for high-quality
microscopes, which makes the condenser
to be movable and allows very high
magnification of above 400X. High-quality
microscopes normally have a high numerical
aperture than objective lenses.
13. The rack stop – It controls how far the
stages should go preventing the objective
lens from getting too close to the specimen
slide which may damage the specimen. It is
responsible for preventing the specimen
slide from coming too far up and hitting the
objective lens.

Parts of a Microscope Revision

Questions (FAQs)
Q. Define a Microscope.
Ans. Microscopes are instruments that are
used in science laboratories, to visualize very
minute objects such as cells, and
microorganisms, giving a contrasting image,
that is magnified.

Q. State functions of a microscope.

Ans. A microscope is usually used for the
study of microscopic algae, fungi, and
biological specimens.

Q. Diagrammatically, identify the

various parts of a microscope.
Ans. https://microbenotes.com/wp-
content/uploads/2020/03/Microscope-Parts-
Diagram-1024×909.jpeg

Q. Describe the functions of each part

of the microscope you have drawn
above.
Ans. https://microbenotes.com/parts-of-a-
microscope/#structural-parts-of-a-
microscope-and-their-functions

Q. Differentiate between a condenser

and an Abbe condenser.
Ans. Condensers are lenses that are used to
collect and focus light from the illuminator into
the specimen. They are found under the stage
next to the diaphragm of the microscope.
They play a major role in ensuring clear sharp
images are produced with a high magnification
of 400X and above. Abbe condenser is a
condenser specially designed for high-quality
microscopes, which makes the condenser to
be movable and allows very high magnification
of above 400X. High-quality microscopes
normally have a high numerical aperture than
objective lenses.

Q. What is the magnification power of

the objective lenses?
Ans. Objective lenses have a magnification
power of 40X to 100X.

Q. How does the eyepiece compare to

the objective lens?
Ans. The eyepiece, also known as the ocular
is the part used to look through the
microscope. Its found at the top of the
microscope. Its standard magnification is 10x
with an optional eyepiece having
magnifications from 5X – 30X. Objective
Lens are the major lenses used for specimen
visualization. They have a magnification power
of 40x-100x. There are about 1- 4 objective
lenses placed on one microscope, in that
some are rare facing and others face forward.

Q. Why is the rack stop included in the

microscope from the factory, and can
it be replaced?
Ans. Rack stop is included in the microscope
for preventing the specimen slide from coming
too far up and hitting the objective lens.

Q. What is a magnification power?

Ans. Magnification of a lens is defined as the
ratio of the height of an image to the height of
an object. Microscope magnification measures
the total enlargement of the image of an
object. Magnification power is the product of
eyepiece lens power and objective lens power.

Q. Differentiate between the fine and

the coarse adjustment knobs.
Ans. The coarse adjustment knob moves
the stage up and down to bring the specimen
into focus. The fine adjustment knob brings
the specimen into sharp focus under low
power and is used for all focusing when using
high-power lenses.

Q. List down the 18 parts of a

Microscope.
1. Ocular Lens (Eye Piece)
2. Diopter Adjustment
3. Head
4. Nose Piece
5. Objective Lens
6. Arm (Carrying Handle)
7. Mechanical Stage
8. Stage Clip
9. Aperture
10. Diaphragm
11. Condenser
12. Coarse Adjustment
13. Fine Adjustment
14. Illuminator (Light Source)
15. Stage Controls
16. Base
17. Brightness Adjustment
18. Light Switch

Q. List down the 3 structural parts of a

microscope.
1. Head
2. Arms
3. Base

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Microscope Parts Worksheets

1. Light Microscope Free Worksheet
Answer Key

2. Inverted Microscope Free

Worksheet
Answer Key

3. Dissecting microscope (Stereo

microscope) Free Worksheet
Answer Key

Read Also:
16 Types of Microscopes with Parts,
Functions, Diagrams
Light Microscope- Definition, Principle,
Types, Parts, Labeled Diagram,
Magnification
Amazing 27 Things Under The Microscope
With Diagrams
Plant Cell- Definition, Structure, Parts,
Functions, Labeled Diagram
Animal Cell: Structure, Parts, Functions,
Labeled Diagram

References
1. Microbiology by Lansing M. Prescott (5th
Edition)
2. https://www.pobschools.org/cms/lib/NY010
01456/Centricity/Domain/349/TheMicrosco
pe-howtouse.pdf
3. https://sciencing.com/parts-microscope-
uses-7431114.html
4. https://www.amscope.com/microscope-
parts-and-functions/
5. https://cpb-us-
e1.wpmucdn.com/cobblearning.net/dist/3/4
204/files/2018/08/Parts-of-the-
Microscope-103b21p.pdf
6. https://www.microscope.com/compound-
microscope-parts

About Author

Faith Mokobi

Faith Mokobi is a passionate scientist and

graduate student
Progress currently pursuing her
Flight Academy

Progress
Ph.D. in Flight (Synthetic
Nanoengineering Open
Academy
Biology specialization) from Joint School