Parts of a Microscope
Eyepiece
The Lens the viewer looks through to see the specimen. The eyepiece usually contains a 10X or 15X power lens
Diopter Adjustment
changes the focus on one eyepiece to correct any differences between your two eyes
Head (body tube)
connects the eyepiece to the objective lens
Arm
Connects the body tube to the base of the microscope
Objective Lenses
One of the most important parts of a compound microscope. this is the closest lenses to a specimen. A standard microscope has three, four, or five objective lenses that range from 4X to 100X. Never let these lens touch the slides.
Course Adjustment
Brings the specimen into general focus
Fine Adjustment
Fine tues the focus and increases the detail of the specimen.
Nosepiece
A rotating turret that houses the objective lenses. The viewer spins the nosepiece to select different lenses.
Slide
This is the object being examined. Most specimens are mounted on slides, flat rectangles of thin glass.
Stage
The flat platform where the slide is placed
Stage clips
Metal clips that hold the slide in place
On/Off Switch
the switch on the base of the microscope turns the illuminator on and off
Aperture
The hole in the middle of the stage that allows light from the illuminator to reach the specimen
Iris diaphragm
Adjusts the amount of light that reaches the specimen
Base
The base supports the microscope and it's where illuminator is located
Condenser
Gathers and focuses light from the illuminator onto the specimen being viewed.
Stage height adjustment (control)
These knobs move the stage left and right or up and down