Parts of a Microscope

Front

Eyepiece or Ocular

Back

This is where you look into the microscope to see the image of the thing you are looking for. It is the piece of the microscope where you put your eye.

Front

Body Tube

Back

This is the long, skinny tube that holds the eyepiece up above the microscope. It allows the light of the image to travel up from the objective lenses to the eyepiece.

Front

Nosepiece

Back

The nosepiece holds the two or three objective lenses. It rotates around in a circle, allowing you to choose which objective lens you want to use.

Front

Objective Lenses

Back

Your microscope may have two or three lenses. These are attached to the nosepiece and vary in size. The shortest lens is the least powerful and the longest lens is the most powerful. Different colored bands often identify the different powers.

Front

Arm

Back

The arm holds the upper portion of the microscope above the stage. It is also where you hold the microscope anytime you move it.

Front

Base

Back

This holds the whole microscope up.

Front

Legs

Back

These hold the microscope in place. Separately they are called legs and together they are called the base.

Front

Slide

Back

The thin piece of glass that you place directly over the opening in the stage and is held in place with the stage clips.

Front

Stage

Back

This is where the slide you want to look at is placed. It is the large flat area directly under the objective lenses that has a hole in the middle of it.

Front

Stage Clips

Back

These are the shiny clips that are on top of the stage. They hold the microscope slide in place.