Definition
Microscope: A microscope is magnifying equipment, magnifies minute objects making them visible to the eye.
The main types of microscopes are monocular or binocular (one or two eyepieces) and the use of a daylight mirror or inbuilt light source.
Binocular microscopes with inbuilt light sources are the recommended type. Power may be provided by mains or 12-volt sources. The quality of the microscope is dependent on the quality of the lenses.
Additional features of microscopes include movable condensers, types of stage, different magnifications of eyepieces and objectives, and darkfield attachments.
Fluorescent microscopes which detect light of certain wavelengths are also available, but these are more costly. Fluorescent attachments may be fixed onto some light microscopes.
Major parts of Microscope
- Eyepieces
- Objectives lens
- Revolving nose piece
- stage
- Light source
- Base
- Specimen slide holder
- Condenser
- Diaphragm
- Fine and coarse adjustment
- Tube, Mono/Binocular
Functions of Major parts of Microscope
Eyepieces
-Upper-end magnifying lens
Objectives lens
-Brings the object into focus at a shorter distance
Revolving nose piece
-For quick exchange of objective
Mechanical stage
-Serve as specimen stage or holder
Specimen slide holder
-It holds the slide in the correct position
Condenser
-Adjust the correct position of the front lens for illumination of a large object
Diaphragm
-Adjusts the light intensity from the light source concerning the objective
Fine and coarse adjustment
-Proper focusing Objects
Tube, Mono/Binocular
-Light transmission media
Light source
-Bottom light the slide-mounted specimen
Base
-Equipment holder
Principle of the Microscope
A Microscope magnifies minute objects making them visible to the eye. The Microscope consists of mechanical components, a system of lenses that magnify the specimen placed on the Microscope stage, and a light source or mirror that illuminates the specimen.
The Microscope is the most important instrument in the laboratory and is used for examination (before or after staining) of blood (including bone marrow and splenic aspirate), urine, stool, sputum, body fluids and discharges, and skin samples for blood and tissue cells, bacteria, fungi, parasites, and structures such as crystals.
The Microscope is also used to confirm agglutination reactions, e.g. in blood transfusion reactions.
Care of the Microscope
Adhere to Biosafety precautions or instruction on handling biological specimen’s laboratory articles including but not limited to wearing Personal Protective Equipment( laboratory coats and wearing gloves)
- Never clean inside lenses of eyepiece or objectives with cloth or paper (This might remove the antireflective coating); use a fine paintbrush only.
- Never leave the microscope without eyepieces unless the opening is covered
- Never keep the microscope in a closed wooden box in hot humid countries
- Do not clean objective by xylene or ethanol
- Never use ordinary paper to clean lenses
- Never touch lenses with your fingers
- Never clean support or stage with Xylene or acetone
- Do not leave the microscope with immersion oil on the objective LENS, remove the oil after daily use. Mild soap solution is suitable for most cleaning.
- Always use a voltage stabilizer this is for those areas with voltage fluctuations.
- Never press the objective onto the slide, since both slide and objective may break. Take care during focusing
- Keep the mechanical stage clean
0 Comments