Chapter 1

Basic Microscopy
CHAPTER 1:
Basic Microscopy
THE EARLY MICROSCOPE
Janssen Microscope
➢ A combination of lenses
inside a tube, arranged in a
particular arrangement for
magnification.
➢ Arrangement is reverse of a
telescope
➢ Provides 3x magnification
➢ Hans and Zacharias Janssen Figure 1. Janssen Microscope
CHAPTER 1:
Basic Microscopy
17TH CENTURY MICROSCOPE

Robert Hooke
➢ Coined the term “cell”
based on the figure he
saw after viewing dead
plant cells under his
microscope. Figure 2.2the “monastery rooms”
Figure 2.1 Robert Hooke from the magnification cork
CHAPTER 1:
Basic Microscopy
17TH CENTURY MICROSCOPE
Robert Hooke

➢ “English Father of Microscopy”

➢ Modified the Janssen
microscope by adding lighting to
the specimen for better viewing.
➢ Provided approximately 50x
magnification
Figure 3. Robert Hooke’s Microscope
CHAPTER 1:
Basic Microscopy
17TH CENTURY MICROSCOPE
Antonie Van Leewuenhoek
➢ “Father of Microbiology”
➢ Invented a microscope
made from a biconvex lens
mounted between brass
plates.
➢ Capable of giving 270x Figure 4.1 Van
Leeuwenhoek’s using his
Figure 4.2 Van
Leeuwenhoek’s microscope
magnification microscope
CHAPTER 1:
Basic Microscopy
ELECTRON MICROSCOPE
Ernst Ruska, Max Knoll
- Invented the electron
microscope which uses
beams of accelerated
electrons as a source of
illumination, and electrostatic
and electromagnetic lenses
for magnification. Figure 5.2 Electron
Figure 5.1 Max Knoll (left) Microscope developed by
and Ernst Ruska (right) Ruska and Knoll
CHAPTER 1:
Basic Microscopy
TYPES OF MICROSCOPY
Bright-Field (Light) Microscopy
➢ Visible light is passed through the
specimen and then through a
series of lenses that bend the light
in a manner that results in the
magnification of the specimen.

Figure 6. Principle of Light Microscopy

CHAPTER 1:
Basic Microscopy

Figure 7. Gram stain of Staphylococcus aureus

CHAPTER 1:
Basic Microscopy
TYPES OF MICROSCOPY
Dark-Field Microscopy
➢ Illuminating the
sample with light that
will not be collected
by the objective lens.

Figure 8.1 Dark-Field image of Figure 8.2. Principle of Dark-Field

Treponema pallidum Microscopy
CHAPTER 1:
Basic Microscopy
TYPES OF MICROSCOPY
Phase Contrast Microscopy
➢ Utilizes beams of light passing
through the specimen that are
partially deflected by the different
densities and thicknesses of the
structures in the sample/specimen.

Figure 9. Principle of Phase Contrast

CHAPTER 1:
Basic Microscopy

Figure 10. Cheek cells under Phase Contrast microscope

CHAPTER 1:
Basic Microscopy
TYPES OF MICROSCOPY
Fluorescent Microscopy
➢ Makes use of dyes (fluorochromes)
which will undergo excitation and
will produce visible (fluorescent)
light from the excess energy
provided through excitation.

Figure 11. Principle of Fluorescence

Microscopy
CHAPTER 1:
Basic Microscopy

Figure 12. Yersinia pestis under fluorescence microscope

CHAPTER 1:
Basic Microscopy
TYPES OF MICROSCOPY
Bright-Field (Light) Microscopy
➢ Uses beams of accelerated
electrons as a source of
illumination, and electrostatic and
electromagnetic lenses for
magnification.

Figure 13. Principle of Electron Microscopy

CHAPTER 1:
Basic Microscopy

Figure 14. Coronavirus transmission under electron microscope

CHAPTER 1:
Basic Microscopy

Table 1. Microscopy for Diagnostic Microbiology (Bailey and Scott’s, 2013)