Holy Angel University

School of Nursing and Allied Medical Sciences

DEPARTMENT OF NURSING

Laboratory Exercise No.1: Microscope

(Prelims)

In Partial Fulfillment of the

Requirements in Microbiology and
Parasitology

Submitted by:
Arcelo, Krystle Eilen T.
Dabu, Ana Beatriz C.
Diwa, Joanne F.
Manipon, Winchin T.
Quicho, Leor T.
Verry, Kirsten Margaret B.
NU-102
Group 3

Submitted to:
Reilennefe D. Dizon
Christian Laine Gotiangco
January 15, 2024
Part I: Label the parts of the microscope.
Part II: Give the functions of the following parts of the microscope.

1. Mirror

The mirror, or more commonly the mirror or light source in modern microscopes,
directs light up through the specimen. It plays a key role in providing illumination,
enhancing contrast, and enabling clear visualization of the specimen on the microscope
slide.

2. Condenser

The condenser in a microscope is responsible for focusing and directing light onto
the specimen, ensuring optimal illumination for observation. Adjusting the condenser
controls the intensity and uniformity of light, crucial for achieving clear and well-illuminated
images.

3. Diaphragm

The diaphragm of a microscope manages the quantity of light entering the

specimen, allowing control over image brightness and contrast by adjusting its aperture.

4. Coarse adjustment knob

The coarse adjustment knob of a microscope is employed to quickly adjust the

focus initially, by moving the objective lens up or down to bring the specimen into view.

5. Fine adjustment knob

The fine adjustment knob of a microscope is utilized for accurate focusing, enabling
minor adjustments to achieve a clear view of the specimen after using the coarse
adjustment knob.

6. Body tube

The body tube in a microscope provides structural support and protection for the
internal optical components. It helps maintain their alignment, ensuring clear and sharp
images when viewing specimens. Additionally, it may allow for the adjustment of
interpupillary distance and integrates with the nosepiece for easy magnification changes.

7. Objective lenses

Objective lenses in a microscope are responsible for magnifying the specimen and
capturing detailed images. They come in various magnification levels, and users can
switch between them for different levels of detail. The objective lenses are located on the
nosepiece and are the primary components contributing to the microscope's resolving
power and clarity of the observed specimen.

8. Lower power objective

A lower power objective lens in a microscope typically has a lower magnification

level compared to higher power objectives. It is commonly used for initial specimen
observation, providing a wider field of view, and allowing users to locate and navigate the
sample easily. They are valuable for tasks such as locating specific areas of interest and
understanding the overall structure or context of the specimen.

9. High power objective

A higher power objective lens in a microscope provides increased magnification for

detailed examination of specific areas within a specimen. It is used after initial
observations with lower magnification lenses, offering a closer view to study fine structures
and microscopic details. Higher power objectives are valuable for in-depth analysis but
require careful focusing due to a narrower field of view and shallower depth of focus.

10. Oil immersion

An oil immersion objective lens in a microscope is designed for the highest

magnification, typically 100x, and is used in conjunction with a specialized immersion oil.
This lens provides exceptional detail for the examination of minute structures in
specimens. To enhance resolution, a drop of immersion oil is placed on the slide, and the
lens is immersed in this oil, minimizing light refraction, and improving image clarity. Oil
immersion objectives are crucial for advanced microscopy techniques and detailed
cellular studies.

11. Eye piece

The eyepiece in a microscope, also known as the ocular lens, is the lens closest to
the viewer's eye. It magnifies the image produced by the objective lens, contributing to the
overall magnification of the microscope. Eyepieces are essential for visualizing and
examining specimens and can be part of monocular or binocular configurations. They also
influence the field of view and may have adjustable features for individual user
preferences.
 Part III: Enumerate the different types of microscopes and their uses.

1. Compound Microscope

The compound microscope “compounds” magnification by using more than one

lens. Its capacity for magnification extends to as much as 1000 times an object’s original
size, and 40 times at minimum. It is also called the compound light microscope as it makes
use of visible light. The compound microscope typical of today has two magnifying lenses:
the ocular lens in the eyepiece, the magnifying power of which is 10x, and the objective
lens located near the sample.

2. Brightfield Microscope

The brightfield microscope consists of several lenses and generates an image in which
the specimen – bacteria or fungi – appears dark against a bright background. However,
the low contrast requires staining of the specimen. Its magnifying power extends to a
range of 1000 to 1500 times. This microscope is not able to visualize objects less than
0.2 μm.

3. Darkfield Microscope

The darkfield microscope, in contrast to the brightfield microscope, generates an image

in which the specimen appears bright against a dark background. This microscope makes
use of reflected light with an opaque disk that blocks the light, thereby allowing for the
specimen to be the sole object of illumination. This microscope is especially conducive to
the examination of a specimen’s external details, particularly specimens that are
unstained and absorb little to no light. Spirochetes are examined using this microscope.

4. Phase-contrast Microscope

The phase-contrast microscope generates high-contrast images of transparent and

colorless live specimens by way of its contrast-enhancing optical technique. Single cells
and monolayer sheets of cells are the typical objects of visualization. Unlike the brightfield
microscope, this microscope can visualize many cellular structures.

5. Differential Interference Contrast Microscope

 This contrasts with photos of specimens that, when viewed with bright field
microscopy, display little to no contrast.

6. Fluorescence Microscope

It is frequently used to photograph characteristics of tiny objects, including

microorganisms. Small-scale visual enhancement of 3-D elements is another application
for it.

7. Light Microscope

They can be used to analyze a variety of specimen types and frequently don't
require any preparation. Specimens of any size, whole or sectioned, living, or dead,
damp, or dry, hot, or cold, and static or rapidly moving can all be studied using light
microscopes.

8. Electron Microscope

They are used in the study of the ultrastructure of many different types of biological
and inorganic specimens, such as metals, crystals, big molecules, cells, biopsy samples,
and microbes.

9. Scanning Probe Microscope

It can be used to move atoms in predetermined patterns or to make images of

surfaces and objects at the nanoscale. It involves a physical probe that sweeps over the
surface of a specimen acquiring data that is utilized to generate the image or control the
atoms.
Parts of the Cell:
SCANNING:

LPO:
 HPO:

Laboratory Activity Documentation:

1. Obtain a Thin Onion Peel:

2. Place the Onion Peel on a Microscope Slide:

3. Carefully Apply a Coverslip:

4. Observe Under the Microscope