A PRINCIPLES OF MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE 1

Lecture Session 4 (midterm) November 10, 2021

MICROSCOPE ⮚ Fluorescence Microscope

– Fluorescent dye attached to organism 
Microscope • an optical instrument that is used – Primarily an immunodiagnostic technique
to observe tiny objects, often objects that cannot (immunofluorescence) 
be seen at all with the unaided human eye (the – Used to detect microbes in cells, tissues,
“naked eye”)  and clinical specimens
Anthony Van Leeuwenhoek - invented

Types of Microscope
⮚ Brightfield Microscope
– Used to observe morphology (size or
shape) of microorganisms such as bacteria,
protozoa, fungi, and algae in living (unstained)
⮚ Transmission-Electron Microscope (TEM)
and nonliving (stained) state
– Specimen is viewed on a screen 
– Cannot observe microbes less than 0.2 um
– Excellent resolution 
in diameter or thickness, such as spirochetes
– Allows examination of cellular and viral
and viruses 
ultrastructure 
– Specimen is nonliving
– Reveals internal features of thin specimens

⮚ Darkfield Microscope
– Unstained organisms are observed against ⮚ Scanning Electron Microscope
a dark background – Specimen is viewed on a screen 
– Useful for examining thin spirochetes – Gives the illusion of depth (three-
– Slightly more difficult to operate than dimensions) 
brightfield – Useful for examining surface features of
cells and viruses 
– Specimen is nonliving 
– Resolution is less than that of TEM

⮚ Phase-Contrast Microscope
– Can be used to observe unstained living
microorganisms

COMPOUND MICROSCOPE • a microscope that

contains more than one magnifying lens
 A PRINCIPLES OF MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE 1
Lecture Session 4 (midterm) November 10, 2021

COMPONENT  LOCATION  FUNCTION 

Objectives: 
1. Scanner (red) - 4x
2. Low power objective (yellow) - 10x 
3. High power objective (blue) - 40x 
4. Oil immersion objective - 100x 

Eyepiece - 10x 
Total Magnification = eyepiece x objectives 

Scanner - 10 x 4 = 40x
Low power objective - 10 x 10 = 100x 
High power objective - 10 x 40 = 400x 
Oil immersion objective - 10 x 100 = 1000x 

PARTS OF MICROSCOPE 
• MECHANICAL SYSTEM– Base, Arm, Stage,
Substage, Mechanical Stage 
• LENS SYSTEM – Nosepiece, Objectives,
Eyepiece, Focal Length 
• OTHER parts - On/OFF switch, Fine/course
adjustment Knob, Iris Diaphragm, condenser,
Light source
 A PRINCIPLES OF MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE 1
Lecture Session 4 (midterm) November 10, 2021

A. Ocular At the top of The ocular source 

lens/eyepiec the lens is an x10
e microscope  magnifying I. Field Attached to Used to
- monocular lens  diaphragm the field adjust the
microscope lever diaphragm  amount of
has 1  light passing
- binocular through the
microscope collector lens 
has 2 
J. On/off On the side Turns the
B. Revolving Above the Holds the switch  of the base  light source
nosepiece  stage  objective on and off 
lenses 
K. Base  Contains the
light source 
C. Objective Held in Used to
lenses  place above magnify L. Condenser Beneath Used to
the stage by objects control knob  and behind adjust the
the placed on the the height of the
revolving stage  condenser  condenser
nosepiece 
M. Fine and On the arm Used to focus
D. Stage  Directly Flat surface N. Coarse of the the objective
beneath the on which the adjustment microscope lenses 
nosepiece specimen is knobs  near the
and placed base 
objective
O. Arm  Supports the
lenses 
binocular
Stage Beneath the Used to move body and the
adjustment stage  the stage and revolving
knobs  microscope nosepiece;
slide held with one
hand when
E. Iris On the Used to carrying the
diaphragm condenser adjest the microscope,
control arm  amount of with the other
light passing hand beneath
through the the base to
condenser  support the
weight of the
F. Condenser  Beneath the Controls the microscope
stage  amount of
light entering P. Binocular Holds the
the body  ocular lenses
condenser  in their proper
locations
G. Collector Beneath the Controls the
lens with condenser  amount of
field light entering
diaphragm  the
condenser

H. Rheostat Front side Controls the

control knob  of the base  amount of
light emitted
from the light
Care of Microscope
 A PRINCIPLES OF MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE 1
Lecture Session 4 (midterm) November 10, 2021

• The microscope paper should be cleaned with

lens paper before and after each use 
• Other material such as laboratory tissue may
scratch the lenses 
• It is especially important that lenses never be
left with oil on them

Transporting the Microscope

• A microscope should be left in a permanent
position on a study laboratory table in an area
where it will not get jammed. 
• If the microscope must be moved, it should be
held securely with one hand supporting the
base and the other hand holding the arm. 
• The microscope should be placed gently on
tabletops, to avoid jarring

Storage of Microscope
• When the microscope is not being used, it
should be left with the low power objective in
position 
• The stage should be centered so that it does
not project from either side of the microscope 
• The microscope should be stored in a plastic
dust cover.

Precautions:
• Use the coarse adjustment only with the low
power objective 
• Use oil each time the oil immersion lens is
used 
• Use oil immersion oil with the oil immersion
objective only 
• Clean all oculars and objectives with lens
paper after each use 
• Move or transport the microscope with one
hand under the base and the other hand
gripping the arm. Avoid jarring or bumping the
microscope 
• Store the microscope covered in a protected
area.