MICROSC
OPY
GRADE 7
MICROSCOPE
A microscope is a scientific instrument that
magnifies objects, allowing us to see
details that are not visible to the naked
eye.
• They are commonly used in biology to study
cells, microorganisms and other tiny
structures.
• Microscopes can come in various types (light,
electron and stereo microscopes) with each
suited for different purposes and levels of
magnification.
MAGNIFY VS.
ENHANCE
Magnification
means to
enlarge an
image.
PEOPLE
BEHIND
ZACHARIAS
JANNSEN
A Dutch spectacle maker,
assembled a viewing
device by placing two
lenses in one tube. This
became the precursor of
both the telescope and
the microscope.
ROBERT
HOOKE
Hooke was the first to
publish a study of his
microscopic
discoveries. His book,
entitled Micrographia,
was notable for both its
contents and its
detailed illustrations.
ANTON VAN
LEEUWENH
OEK
Leeuwenhoek’s
microscope had a
magnifying power of 270x,
enabling him to be the
first one to see and
describe microorganisms,
such as bacteria, as well
as the circulation of blood
TYPES OF
MICROSCOPE
OPTICAL
MICROSC
OPE
An optical
microscope uses
light to make an
image visible. This
type is further
divided into two
COMPOUN
D
MICROSC
This is composed of a
two-lensOPE
system - an
objective and an eye
piece. A compound
microscope’s maximum
magnification is about
1000x.
STEREO
MICROSCO
PE
The maximum
magnification of a stereo
microscope is about 100x,
which is often used in
observing opaque objects.
It can also provide a
three-dimensional view of
TRANSMISSION
ELECTRON
MICROSCOPE
A TEM functions by
letting an electron
beam pass through a
very thin sample. This
results in a magnified
two-dimensional image
of the specimen.
SCANNING
ELECTRON
MICROSCOPE
The SEM projects the
electron beam directly
on the sample. The
electrons cannot go
through the sample
because they bounce
off.
SCANNING
PROBE
MICROSCOPE
This type of microscope can
visualize objects as small as
atoms through computer
generation. The computer
uses electrical current to
generate the image of the
specimen.
PARTS OF A
MICROSCOPE
MAGNIFYING
PARTS
EYEPIE
CE
This is where a
person looks through
to observe the
specimen. A standard
eyepiecce typically
has a 10x magnifying
capacity. Some,
however, have 5x to
30x magnificcation.
OBJECTIV
E LENSES
The primary optical lenses on a
microscope, or objective lenses, have
magnifying power that range from 4x to
100x.
The common objective lenses are as
follows:
a. Low Power Objective (LPO) which has
10x magnification.
b. High Power Objective (HPO) which has
40x magnification.
MECHANICAL
PARTS
BODY
TUBE
This part holds
the eyepiece and
connects it to the
objective lenses.
REVOLVIN
G NOSE
PIECE
The nosepiece is located at
the bottom of the body
tube. It is a rotating disk
which houses the objective
lenses.
STAGE
It is the flat
platform where
the specimen is
placed.
BASE
The bottom part or
the base of the
microscope is
usually made up of
durable material so
that it can provide
stability to the
ARM
This part
connects the
base to the
lenses.
COURSE
ADJUSTMENT
KNOB
This knob adjusts the
stage with the slide
containing the specimen.
FINE
ADJUSTMENT
This KNOB
knob is used to
sharpen the lens’ focus on
the specimen.
STAGE
CLIPS
These are used
to hold the slide
in place while it
is on stage.
RACK
STOP
To prevent the ramming of objective
lens into the slide when the coarse
adjustment knob is being used, the
rack stop determines the distance
between the specimen and the
ILLUMINATING
PARTS
ILLUMINATO
R / MIRROR
Microscopes need
light source to make
a specimen
viewable. Light from
an external source is
reflected by using a
mirror or a powered
DIAPHRAG
M
The
diaphragm
controls the
amount of
light reaching
CONDENS
ER
This is used to
collect light from
the illuminator /
mirror and to have it
focused on the
specimen.
This is a
APERTURE small hole in
the stage
through
which light is
transmitted
on to the
specimen’s
SAMPLE
PREPARATI
ON
TECHNIQU
ES
DRY MOUNT
The most basic technique, this requires
positioning a thinly sliced section on the
slide’s center while a cover slip is placed
over the sample. This technique is used
primarily in observing inorganic and dead
matter.
WET MOUNT
In this technique, the specimen is
suspended in fluids such as water, glycerin,
immersion oil, or brine. This is commonly
used for aquatic samples and microscopic
organisms.
SMEAR SLIDE
In preparing a smear slide, a sediment is
fixed on a glass slide for the microscopic
examination of smaples like rocks and other
minerals. It is a method used for sediment
classification and for identifying the
pressure of microfossils.
SQUASH
CommonlySLIDE
used for soft samples,
this technique involves doing a
wet mount of a thin slice of
specimen before compressing it
between two slides.
STAINING
In this technique, a staining
solution is added to a specific
specimen to enhance the
visualization through contrast
increase. There are a variety of
stains that can be used for this
