MICROSCOPY - the form and structure of specimen
become visible because some of their
What is a microscope? parts absorb light.
- it is an indispensable tool in the study
of biology. Magnification
- it enables us to study objects too - makes possible the enlargement of a
small to be seen and observed by the specimen’s image.
unaided eye. - it is achieved by using two kinds of
specially ground lenses. The system of
KINDS OF MICROSCOPY curved lenses consists of the ocular and
the objectives.
Light microscopy
- image is formed by absorption of
light in the specimen and its
transmission through a set of lenses.
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
- Uses beams of electrons instead of
light rays, and magnetic or electrostatic
fields as lenses
TYPES OF LIGHT
MICROSCOPY
Resolution
- enables us to observe the finer details
Bright- field microscopy
pf th object being studied.
- light passing through the mounted
- the resolving power of the compound
specimen is brought directly into focus.
light microscope is approximately 0.2 u,
- viewer sees image of specimen against
which is approximately on half the
a bright, lighted microscopic field.
wavelength of visible light.
Dark- field microscopy
- bright image of the specimen is visible MODELS OF THE
against a dark field of view. COMPOUND
- attained by making light rays pass MICROSCOPE
through the specimen at an ablique
angle. 1. Monocular Microscope
- requires the use of only one eye for
TYPES OF MICROSCOPES observation.
Light Microscopes
- depend on available light in their
operation.
- visible light passes through the small
or thin specimen to be observed and then
through the glass lenses.
- the lenses bend in such a way that the
specimen appears magnified as it is
projected unto the eye.
microscopy is often used in immunology
2. Binocular microscope laboratories to demonstrate that
- requires both eyes to observe antibodies stained with a fluorescent dye
specimens. have combined with specific antigens
3. Trinocular Microscope
- has a third ocular either for camera or B. Electron Microscope
video attachment. - Uses a beam of electrons instead of
light, and electromagnets instead of
4. Stereomicroscope glass lenses.
- is used to observe opaque objects and - The image is magnified by an objective
relatively large specimens like flies, ants lens and a projector for projection into a
or small plants such as azolla or moss. screen or photographic film.
- It provides the advantage of a
3-dimensional view of the specimen.
TYPES OF ELECTRON
5. Phase Contrast MICROSCOPES
Microscope
-used to observe unstained living 1. Transmission Electron
microorganisms. Microscope – used to
- Because the light refracted by living study the internal
cells is different from the light refracted structure of cells.
by the surrounding medium, contrast is - the resolving power of a transmission
increased, and the organisms are more electron microscope is approximately
easily seen. 0.2 nm, which is about one million times
better than the resolving power of the
unaided human eye and 1,000 times
better than the resolving power of the
compound light microscope.
6. Fluorescence
microscope
- contains a built-in
ultraviolet (UV) light
source.
- when UV light strikes certain dyes and
pigments, these substances emit a longer
wavelength light, causing them to glow
against a dark background fluorescence
TEM of the cross section of a stem IMPORTANT NOTE:
- Photographs taken using compound
2. Scanning Electron light microscopes are called
Microscope photomicrographs.
- offers the distinct advantage of a
3-dimensional view of up to 100,000x. -Those taken using transmission and
- scanning electron microscopes have a scanning electron microscopes are called
resolving power of about 20 nm—about transmission electron micrographs and
100 times less than the resolving power scanning electron micrographs,
of transmission electron microscopes. respectively.
PARTS OF A COMPOUND
MICROSCOPE
1. OCULAR – or eyepiece; where
you peep into.
2. BODY TUBE – or the HEAD;
connects the ocular to the revolving
SEM of pollen grains nosepiece.
3. SCANNING TUNNELING 3. REVOLVING NOSEPIECE
MICROSCOPE – serves as the attachment of the
- maps the profile of a surface on the objectives.
atomic scale
4. SCANNING OBJECTIVE –
magnifies the specimen 4x.
5. LOW POWER OBJECTIVE
– magnifies the specimen 10x
6. HIGH POWER
Silicon under STM OBJECTIVE – magnifies a
specimen 40x.
7. OIL IMMERSION
OBJECTIVE – magnifies a
specimen 97x or 100x.
8. DUST SHIELD – protects the
objectives from dust.
9. STAGE – where the specimen is
placed.
Computing for Total
10. STAGE CLIPS – keep the Magnification
specimen in place.
11. MIRROR – collects light.
12. DIAPHRAGM – regulates
light
13. INCLINATION JOINT –
used for tilting the microscope
14. ARM – connects the body tube
to the base.
15. BASE – supports the rest of
the parts of the microscope
16. PILLAR – connects the base
to the arm
17. COARSE ADJUSTMENT
– used to raise/lower the scanning
and low power objectives.
18. FINE ADJUSTMENT –
used to raise/lower the high power
and oil immersion objectives.
19. CONDENSER – for further
focusing of light on the specimen.
20. DIOPTER
ADJUSTMENT – used to change
focus on one eyepiece to correct any
difference in vision between the
eyes.
21. APERTURE – hole in the
middle of the stage that allows light
from the illuminator to reach the
specimen.
22. ILLUMINATION – the
light source which is turned on and
off by a switch
