The microscope

Supports the microscope. Substage light: Located in the base, the light passes directly upward through the microscope.

• Base

• Stage

• Condenser

• Iris diaphragm

The platform the slide rests on while being viewed. The stage has a hole in it to permit light to pass through both it and the specimen. The mechanical stage permits precise movement of the specimen.

• Base

• Stage

• Condenser

• Iris diaphragm

TConcentrates the light on the specimen. The condenser has a height adjustment knob that raises and lowers the condenser to vary light delivery. Generally, the best position for the condenser is close to the inferior surface of the stage

• Base

• Stage

• Condenser

• Iris diaphragm

Dial attached to the condenser that regulates the amount of light passing through the condenser. The iris diaphragm permits the best possible contrast when viewing the specimen.

• Base

• Stage

• Condenser

• Iris diaphragm

Used for precise focusing once coarse focusing has been completed. Use only this knob when on 40x or 100x.

• Fine adjustment knob

• Head or body tube:

• Arm

• Ocular (or eyepiece)

Vertical portion of the microscope connecting the base and the head..

• Fine adjustment knob

• Head or body tube:

• Arm

• Ocular (or eyepiece)

Supports the objective lens system, and the ocular lenses.

• Fine adjustment knob

• Head or body tube:

• Arm

• Ocular (or eyepiece)

There are two lenses at the superior end of the head, through which observations are made. An ocular lens has a magnification of 10x. If your microscope has a pointer, it is attached to the right ocular and can be positioned by rotating the ocular lens

• Fine adjustment knob

• Head or body tube:

• Arm

• Ocular (or eyepiece)

Has four objective lenses and permits sequential positioning of these lenses over the light beam passing through the hole in the stage. Use the nose piece to change the objective lenses.

• Nose piece

• Objective lenses

• Arm

• Ocular (or eyepiece)

Adjustable lens system that permits the use of a scanning lens, a low-power lens, a high-power lens, or an oil immersion lens. The objective lenses have different magnifying and resolving powers.

• Nose piece

• Objective lenses

• Arm

• Ocular (or eyepiece)