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diagram

Parts of a microscope with functions and labeled

diagram
September 17, 2022 by Faith Mokobi

Having been constructed in the 16th Century, Microscopes have

revolutionalized science with their ability to magnify small objects
such as microbial cells, producing images with definitive
structures that are identifiable and characterizable.

Table of Contents
What are Microscopes?
Microscope Definition
Structural parts of a microscope and their functions
Figure: Diagram of parts of a microscope
Optical parts of a microscope and their functions
Parts of a Microscope Revision Questions (FAQs)
Microscope Parts Worksheets
1. Light Microscope Free Worksheet
2. Inverted Microscope Free Worksheet
3. Dissecting microscope (Stereo microscope) Free Worksheet
References and Sources

What are Microscopes?

Microscope Definition
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.

Microscopes are generally made up of structural parts for holding

and supporting the microscope and its components and the
optical parts which are used for magnification and viewing of the
specimen images. 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

Figure created with biorender.com

Figure: Diagram of parts of a microscope

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

1. Head – This is also known as the body. It carries the optical parts
in the upper part of the microscope.
2. Base – It acts as microscopes support. It also carries
microscopic illuminators.
3. Arms – This is the part connecting the base and to the head and
the eyepiece tube to the base of the microscope. It gives support
to the head of the microscope and it is also used when carrying
 the microscope. Some high-quality microscopes have an
articulated arm with more than one joint allowing more movement
of the microscopic head for better viewing.

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 – also known as the ocular. This is the part used to look
through the microscope. Its found at the top of the microscope.
Its standard magnification is 10x with an optional eyepiece having
magnifications from 5X to 30X.
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. Objective lenses – These are the major lenses used for specimen
visualization. They have a magnification power of 40x-100X.
There are about 1- 4 objective lenses placed on one microscope,
in that some are rare facing and others face forward. Each lens
has its own magnification power.
4. Nose piece – also known as the revolving turret. It holds the
objective lenses. It is movable hence it cal revolve the objective
lenses depending on the magnification power of the lens.
5. The Adjustment knobs – These are knobs that are used to focus
the microscope. There are two types of adjustment knobs i.e fine
adjustment knobs and coarse adjustment knobs.
6. 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.
7. Aperture – This is a hole on the microscope stage, through which
the transmitted light from the source reaches the stage.
8. Microscopic illuminator – This is the microscopes light source,
located at the base. It is used instead of a mirror. It captures light
from an external source of a low voltage of about 100v.
9. 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 more the image clarity. More
sophisticated microscopes come with an Abbe condenser that
has a high magnification of about 1000X.
10. Diaphragm – it’s also known as the iris. Its 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.
11. Condenser focus knob – this is a knob that moves the condenser
up or down thus controlling the focus of light on the specimen.
12. Abbe Condenser – this is a condenser specially designed for high-
quality microscopes, which makes the condenser to be movable
and allows very high magnification of above 400X. High-quality
 microscopes normally have a high numerical aperture than
objective lenses.
13. 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.

Parts of a Microscope Revision Questions (FAQs)

Q. Define a Microscope.
Ans. 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.

Q. State functions of a microscope.

Ans. A microscope is usually used for the study of microscopic
algae, fungi, and biological specimens.

Q. Diagrammatically, identify the various parts of a microscope.

Ans. https://microbenotes.com/wp-
content/uploads/2020/03/Microscope-Parts-Diagram-
1024×909.jpeg

Q. Describe the functions of each part of the microscope you

have drawn above.
Ans. https://microbenotes.com/parts-of-a-
microscope/#structural-parts-of-a-microscope-and-their-
functions

Q. Differentiate between a condenser and an Abbe condenser.

Ans. Condensers 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. Abbe condenser is a
condenser specially designed for high-quality microscopes, which
makes the condenser to be movable and allows very high
magnification of above 400X. High-quality microscopes normally
have a high numerical aperture than objective lenses.

Q. What is the magnification power of the objective lenses?

Ans. Objective lenses have a magnification power of 40X to 100X.

Q. How does the eyepiece compare to the objective lens?

Ans. The eyepiece, also known as the ocular is the part used to
look through the microscope. Its found at the top of the
microscope. Its standard magnification is 10x with an optional
eyepiece having magnifications from 5X – 30X. Objective Lens
are the major lenses used for specimen visualization. They have a
magnification power of 40x-100x. There are about 1- 4 objective
lenses placed on one microscope, in that some are rare facing
and others face forward.

Q. Why is the rack stop included in the microscope from the

factory, and can it be replaced?
Ans. Rack stop is included in the microscope for preventing the
specimen slide from coming too far up and hitting the objective
lens.

Q. What is a magnification power?

Ans. Magnification of a lens is defined as the ratio of the height of
an image to the height of an object. Microscope magnification
measures the total enlargement of the image of an object.
Magnification power is the product of eyepiece lens power and
objective lens power.
Q. Differentiate between the fine and the coarse adjustment
knobs.
Ans. The coarse adjustment knob moves the stage up and down
to bring the specimen into focus. The fine adjustment knob
brings the specimen into sharp focus under low power and is
used for all focusing when using high-power lenses.

Q. List down the 18 parts of a Microscope.

1. Ocular Lens (Eye Piece)
2. Diopter Adjustment
3. Head
4. Nose Piece
5. Objective Lens
6. Arm (Carrying Handle)
7. Mechanical Stage
8. Stage Clip
9. Aperture
10. Diaphragm
11. Condenser
12. Coarse Adjustment
13. Fine Adjustment
14. Illuminator (Light Source)
15. Stage Controls
16. Base
17. Brightness Adjustment
18. Light Switch

Q. List down the 3 structural parts of a microscope.

1. Head
2. Arms
3. Base
Read Also:
Light Microscope- Definition, Principle, Types, Parts, Labeled
Diagram, Magnification
Amazing 27 Things Under The Microscope With Diagrams
Plant Cell- Definition, Structure, Parts, Functions, Labeled Diagram
Animal Cell- Definition, Structure, Parts, Functions, Labeled
Diagram
Cell Organelles- Definition, Structure, Functions, Diagram

Microscope Parts Worksheets

1. Light Microscope Free Worksheet
Answer Key
2. Inverted Microscope Free Worksheet
Answer Key
3. Dissecting microscope (Stereo microscope) Free
Worksheet
Answer Key
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References and Sources

1. Microbiology by Lansing M. Prescott (5th Edition)
2. https://www.pobschools.org/cms/lib/NY01001456/Centricity/Do
main/349/TheMicroscope-howtouse.pdf
3. https://sciencing.com/parts-microscope-uses-7431114.html
4. https://www.amscope.com/microscope-parts-and-functions/
5. https://cpb-us-
e1.wpmucdn.com/cobblearning.net/dist/3/4204/files/2018/08/P
arts-of-the-Microscope-103b21p.pdf
6. https://www.microscope.com/compound-microscope-parts
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