2/17/24, 4:46 AM Parts of a microscope with functions and labeled diagram

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Parts of a microscope with functions and labeled diagram

November 5, 2023 by Prashant Dahal

Edited By: Sagar Aryal

Having been constructed in the 16th Century, microscopes have revolutionized science
with their ability to magnify small objects such as microbial cells, producing images with
definitive structures that are identifiable and characterizable.

Derived from Greek words “mikrós” meaning “small” and “skópéō” meaning “look at”.

Table of Contents
What are Microscopes?
Structural parts of a microscope and their functions
Optical parts of a microscope and their functions
Microscope Parts Worksheet
Compound Microscope Parts Worksheet Hints
Compound Microscope Parts Worksheet Answer Key
Light Microscope Worksheet
Inverted Microscope Worksheet
Dissecting microscope (Stereo microscope) Worksheet
How Does Microscope Work?
Parts of a Microscope Revision Questions (FAQs)
Q. Define a Microscope.
Q. State functions of a microscope.
Q. Diagrammatically, identify the various parts of a microscope.
Q. Describe the functions of each part of the microscope you have drawn above.
Q. Differentiate between a condenser and an Abbe condenser.
Q. What is the magnification power of the objective lenses?
Q. How does the eyepiece compare to the objective lens?
Q. Why is the rack stop included in the microscope from the factory, and can it be replaced?

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Q. What is a magnification power?

Q. Differentiate between the fine and the coarse adjustment knobs.
Q. List down the 18 parts of a microscope.
Q. List down the three structural parts of a microscope.
Q. List down the 17 parts of a microscope.
References

What are Microscopes?

Microscopes are instruments that are used in science laboratories to visualize very
minute objects, such as cells and microorganisms, giving a contrasting image that
is magnified.

Microscopes are made up of lenses for magnification, each with its own magnification
powers. Depending on the type of lens, it will magnify the specimen according to its
focal strength.

Their ability to function is because they have been constructed with special components
that enable them to achieve high magnification levels. They can view very small
specimens and distinguish their structural differences, for example, the view of animal
and plant cells viewing microscopic bacterial cells.

There are different types of microscopes like light microscope, dark-field microscope,
phase contrast microscope, electron microscope, fluorescent microscope, etc.

Microscopes are generally made up of structural parts for holding and supporting the
microscope and its components and the optical parts that are used for magnification
and viewing of the specimen images. Modern microscopes have additional electronics
and display devices. This description defines the parts of a microscope and the functions
they perform to enable the visualization of specimens.

Structural parts of a microscope and their functions

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Figure: Diagram of parts of a microscope

There are three structural parts of the microscope i.e. head, arm, and base.

1. Head – The head is a cylindrical metallic tube that holds the eyepiece lens at one end
and connects to the nose piece at other end. It is also called a body tube or eyepiece
tube. It connects the eyepiece lens to the objective lens. The light coming from
objectives will bend inside this tube. In binocular microscopes, they are adjustable so
that the viewer can adjust the eyepiece for maximum visualization.
2. Arm – This is the part connecting the base to the head and the eyepiece tube to the
base of the microscope. It supports the head of the microscope and is also used when
carrying the microscope. Some high-quality microscopes have an articulated arm with

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more than one joint, allowing more movement of the microscopic head for better
viewing.
3. Base – The base is the lowermost part of the microscope that supports the entire
microscope structure. It provides stability for the microscope. Illuminators, light
switches, and electrical wiring systems are fitted in the base.

Optical parts of a microscope and their functions

The optical parts of the microscope are used to view, magnify, and produce an image
from a specimen placed on a slide. These parts include:

1. Eyepiece – The eyepiece (ocular Lens) is closest to the viewer’s eye. They are located
at the top of the microscope. This part is used to look at the specimen. These lenses
come in different magnification powers from 5X to 30X, but the most common ocular
lenses are of 10X or 15X magnification. They magnify the image for the second time.
2. Eyepiece tube – It’s the eyepiece holder. It carries the eyepiece just above the
objective lens. In some microscopes, such as the binoculars, the eyepiece tube is
flexible and can be rotated for maximum visualization for variance in distance. For
monocular microscopes, they are none flexible.
3. Diopter Adjustment – Diopter Adjustment is a control knob present only in the
binocular microscope that is used to change focus on one eyepiece. It is used to
correct any difference in vision and compensate for the differences in vision between
the viewer’s two eyes.
4. Nose piece – A nose piece is a movable circular structure that houses all the objective
lenses. It is also called the revolving turret. It is connected to the body tube and lies
just above the stage. It can be rotated clockwise or counterclockwise to increase or
decrease the magnification. The change in magnification results due to a change in
the objective lens.
5. Objective lenses – The objective lens is the lens that is closest to the specimen. They
are fitted on the nosepiece. A standard microscope has 3 to 4 objective lenses of
different magnifying powers: 4X, 10X, 40X, and 100X. The objective lenses first receive

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the light transmitted from the specimen and magnify the image for the first time.
Objective lenses are color-coded and are of different sizes. Size and color depend on
the power of the lens. The smallest lens is of the lowest power, and gradually, the
longest will be of the highest power. The high power lenses i.e. 40X and 100X, are
retractable, i.e., their end can be pushed inward. In most optical microscopes,
objective lenses with 100X or more magnification are of oil immersion type.
6. The Adjustment knobs – Adjustment Knobs are the control knobs used to focus the
microscope on the specimen. These knobs are of two types;
a. Fine Adjustment Knob: Fine Adjustment Knob is used for fine adjustment. It is a
smaller knob and is used to move the stage up or down very slowly. The stage covers
a very small distance on each rotation of the fine adjustment knob. It is used to
sharpen the image. It is mostly used while viewing under high power.
b. Coarse Adjustment Knob: Coarse Adjustment Knob is used for focusing the
image under low power magnification. It is a larger knob and is used to move the
stage up or down very rapidly. The stage is raised or lowered rapidly with the help of
a coarse adjustment knob.
7. Stage – This is the section in which the specimen is placed for viewing. They have
stage clips that hold the specimen slides in place. The most common stage is the
mechanical stage, which allows the control of the slides by moving the slides using
the mechanical knobs on the stage instead of moving them manually.
8. Stage Control Knobs – Stage Control Knobs are the control knobs used to move the
stage mechanically. There are two knobs; one for moving left and right and the other
for moving forward and backward. This will move the slide in the field of vision.
9. Aperture – This is a hole in the microscope stage through which the transmitted light
from the source reaches the stage.
10. Microscopic illuminator – A microscopic illuminator is a light source. In some
compound microscopes, a mirror, which reflects the light from an external source to
the sample, is used. In other optical microscopes, different electric bulbs of low
voltages are used as a constant light source. Commonly used illuminators are
tungsten-halogen lamps, 75-150W Xenon lamps, tin-halide lamps, mercury vapor
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lamps, etc. The selection of types of bulbs is based on the requirement of intensity
and wavelength for illumination.
11. Condenser – These are lenses that are used to collect and focus light from the
illuminator into the specimen. They are found under the stage next to the diaphragm
of the microscope. They play a major role in ensuring clear, sharp images are
produced with a high magnification of 400X and above. The higher the magnification
of the condenser, the clearer the image. More sophisticated microscopes come with
an Abbe condenser that has a high magnification of about 1000X.
12. Diaphragm – It’s also known as the iris. It is found under the stage of the microscope,
and its primary role is to control the amount of light that reaches the specimen. It’s an
adjustable apparatus, hence controlling the light intensity and the size of the beam of
light that gets to the specimen. For high-quality microscopes, the diaphragm comes
attached with an Abbe condenser, and combined, they are able to control the light
focus and light intensity that reaches the specimen.
13. Condenser focus knob – This is a knob that moves the condenser up or down, thus
controlling the focus of light on the specimen.
14. Abbe Condenser – This condenser specially designed for high-quality microscopes
makes the condenser movable and allows very high magnification above 400X. High-
quality microscopes normally have a higher numerical aperture than objective lenses.
15. The rack stop – It controls how far the stages should go, preventing the objective
lens from getting too close to the specimen slide, which may damage the specimen. It
is responsible for preventing the specimen slide from coming too far up and hitting
the objective lens.
16. Light Switch – Light Switch is an electrical control device. Light switches are used to
on and off the illuminator.
17. Brightness Adjustment – The brightness adjustment system controls the voltage
supplied to the light bulb, controlling the intensity (brightness) of the light bulb.

Microscope Parts Worksheet

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Microscope Parts Worksheet

Compound Microscope Parts Worksheet Hints

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Microscope Parts Worksheet Hints

Compound Microscope Parts Worksheet Answer Key

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Microscope Parts Worksheet Answer Key

Download Compound Microscope Parts

Worksheet PDF

Light Microscope Worksheet

Answer Key

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