BUTUAN DOCTORS’ COLLEGE

Butuan City

Name: Remark:_______
Program, level and section:

Laboratory Worksheet No. 1

THE MONOCULAR COMPOUND MICROSCOPE

OBJECTIVES: At the end of the activity, the students shall be able to:
1. Comprehend the use of the microscope in the study of the human body;
2. Appreciate the parts of the microscope and their corresponding functions;
and
3. Describe the proper way of carrying the microscope and to how
properly handle it

INTRODUCTION:

Because of the limitations of our senses, many things we would like to find out about
living organisms can be discovered only by making use of the microscope which makes it
possible to observe object so small that they are invisible to our unaided eyes.

There are many different kinds of microscope. The type most commonly used in the
Biology laboratory is the monocular compound microscope. In working with this kind of
microscope we use only one eye so we see an image having length and width but little apparent
depth. Ordinarily the objects are examined with this type of microscope must be sit or so small or
thin that light will pass through them. The observers are able to distinguish form structure in such
objects because some parts of them absorb more light than others. Things seen in this way
under the microscope are said to be observed by transmitted light.

Types of Microscope:

The dissecting microscope is used for examination of gross specimen and for dissecting
under low power, some compound microscope magnify about 2,000 times. Other types of
microscope which are complicated and expensive have much greater magnifying power. The
ultraviolet microscope magnifies up to 10,000 times while the electron microscope up to more
than 60,000 times.

Binocular compound microscope, has two oculars, one for each eye of the observer. In
this type, the centers of the lenses of the two oculars are adjusted with the centers of the
viewer’s eyes until both eyes see only one field.

Another type of microscope which utilizes the refraction of light is the phase microscope.
It is especially important in the study of the living cells.

Electron microscope uses magnetic or electrostatic fields as lenses, the image results
from a scattering of electrons by atoms in the specimen. This type can magnify an image several
hundred thousand times the actual size of very minutes object which cannot be perceived even
by the most powerful lenses of an optical microscope.
B. Parts of a Microscope:

a. Mechanical Parts – these consists of certain precise parts chiefly of metal to

support and adjust the optical parts.

1. Base – heavy, Y shaped foot in which the microscope stands.

2. Pillar – short supporting piece arising from the base where the arm is attached.
3. Arm - short curved handle that connects the base and the body tube and is
used in carrying the microscope.
4. Inclination Joint – a movable hinge between the pillar and arms and is used
to tilt the upper parts whenever necessary.
5. Body Tube – is a hollow cylinder attached to the arm: bears the lower lenses;
serves as attachment of the drawtube onto the microscope as well as
passageway of light from the objective to the ocular.
6. Draw tube – smaller cylinder that is attached to the upper portion of the body
tube which bears the ocular or eyepiece. This can be moved upward or
downward to adjust the tube length or distance between the lenses of the
ocular and the objective.
7. Rotating nosepiece (revolving nosepiece) – revolving structure at the lower
end of the body which bears the lower lenses. This facilitates shifting of
objectives. This is protected by a fixed dust shield that keeps off the dust from
the objective lenses,
8. Dust shields – metallic structure above the nosepiece which protects the
lower lenses.
9. Coarse adjustment screws or knobs - geared to the body tube use to bring
the object into focus; uppermost and larger knobs used to raise and lower
optical system in preparation for focusing when using the low power
objective. (Caution: Never use this when focusing with the high power
objective or any higher power objective.)
10. Fine adjustment screws – lower smaller knob below the coarse adjustment
screw used for slow or little movement of the body tube when focusing the
high power objective and for more delicate focusing.
11. Stage – platform with central aperture for light to pass through and two stage
clips to hold the slide being studied. Some microscopes are provided with a
mechanical stage which
12. Mechanical stage – mechanism attached to the stage for ease in moving the
slide or moves the specimen by screw movement either forward, backward or
sideward.
13. Stage clips – keep the slide in place for clear focusing; prevent the slide from
being dislodge.

b. Optical Parts – these consists principally of special types of carefully ground

and polished glasses aligned on an optical axis for the enlargement of the image of
the object under study.

1. Mirror –found below the stage with concave and flat surfaces to gather and
direct the light to illuminate the object.
2. Iris diaphragm –found below the mirror consisting of several metal
blades; regulate or control the amount of light reaching the object.
3. Condenser – found immediately beneath the stage; serves further to
concentrate the light rays of the specimen.
4. Low Power objective - shorter lens screwed to the rotating nosepiece
serves to form the image of the object within the body tube.
5. High power objective – lower lens screwed to the rotating nosepiece;
serves to form a bigger image of the object, within a body tube.
 6. Scanner – the shortest of the three objectives; use for general viewing of
the specimen studied.
7. Ocular / eyepiece- found in the draw tube for further magnification of the image.

C. How to Care the Microscope?

The Microscope, like all other instrument in the laboratory, must be given
proper care.
1. It should always be carried in an upright position
2. With one hand firmly grasping the arm and the other hand supporting it under
the base.
3. If it is necessary to tilt the instrument, use the inclination joint, and always
return the microscope to its untitled position at the conclusion or end of your
work.
4. At the end of the period, turn the revolving nosepiece until the low power
objective is in place. Adjust the position in approximately 1 cm. above the
stage
5. Position the stage clips so that they do not extend beyond the side of the
stage. Return the microscope to the proper storage space. Clean all slides
and cover slip.

D. Precautionary Measures: The following precaution should always be taken to

keep microscope in good condition.
1. Handle set with greatest care. When taking it from or returning it to the case
always carry it with two hands. Never carry anything else when you are
carrying a microscope.
2. Before using a microscope ascertain if all its parts are present and no part is
broken. Report any missing or broken part to your instructor immediately. If
these defects are reported to your instructor soon after you have used the
microscope, it will be taken for granted that you are responsible for the loss or
breakage.
3. Keep your lenses clean. In cleaning them use lens paper only. Never use
your fingers or handkerchief, as many coarse cleaner is liable to scratch and
destroy the lenses.
4. Do not allow the water to set on stage from temporary mounts. If the stand
gets wet, it will become rusty. Moreover, you cannot move the slide on a wet
surface. When using temporary mounts, never tilt the microscope. Be sure
that the underside and edge of your slide are dry.
5. Do not allow any chemical acid or alkaline or stain to come in contact with the
lenses.
6. When the microscope is used in an upright position do not use clips as they
prevent you from moving your slide. It is necessary to move the slides
especially when studying living microscope organisms.
7. Position the slide with an area to be examined under low power in the center
of the field of vision. Shift to the high power objective and if an adjustment in
focusing is necessary, do so with the fine adjustment screw.
8. Do not move the pointer.
PROCEDURE:
Refer to any Human Anatomy and Physiology book or surf from the
Internet or access https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrZxPVmhZzM and provide the
following questions with satisfactory answers.
1. As a student in health-related program, the microscope serves numerous
uses especially in the Clinical Laboratory. Describe two uses of this
instrument.
a. _

b.

2. Shown below is an image of a microscope. Label all the parts using capital
letters provided with a leader line.

3. In the table shown below, provide the parts of the microscope with brief
and principal function/s.
Par Function
ts /s
1. Mirror

2. Arm

3. Iris diaphragm

4. Dust shield
 5. Fine adjustment screws

6. Scanner

7. Stage Clips

8. High power objective

9. Inclination joint

10. Revolving nosepiece

11. Coarse adjustment

knob
12. Eyepiece

4. Describe the proper way of carrying the microscope when being transferred
from the cabinet / case to the table or from one place to another.

5. State the precautionary measures when using the microscope in the following
conditions:
a. when viewing temporary mounts or wet specimens

b. when cleaning the lenses or the optical parts

_

6. The image of the specimen understudy is inverted when viewed under the
microscope. Discuss briefly the reason.

7. When to use and when not to use a tilted position of the microscope? _

END