GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY 1
INSTRUCTOR: CHRIS PAUL PAGAOA
University of Northern Philippines
Tamag Vigan City, Ilocos Sur
Laboratory Exercise #1: The Compound Microscope
MICROBIOLOGY
NAME :
COURSE : BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY
Answer the following questions to enhance your understanding in the field of
microscopy. Cite your reference/s in APA format.
1. What is a microscope?
- An essential tool in the study of life science. It allows you to see
things that are too small to be seen with the naked eye.
2. In a tabular form, give the description and function of the
following parts of a compound microscope:
A. MECHANICAL PARTS
MECHANICAL PARTS DESCRIPTION FUNCTION
1 Draw tube The smaller of the two tubes on The upper end of the
a monocular microscope. The body tube has a
drawtube carries the ocular, it small fixed tube
can be adjusted to control which is known as
tube length and so effect the drawtube. The
corrections for the objective main function of the
lens. drawtube is to hold
the ocular lens.
2 Body tube It is a hollow tube through It separates the
which light travels from the objective and the
objective to the ocular. It eyepiece and
contains a prism at the base of assures continuous
the tube that bends the light alignment of the
, GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY 2
INSTRUCTOR: CHRIS PAUL PAGAOA
rays so they can enter the optics. It is a
inclined tube. standardized length,
anthropometrically
related to the
distance between
the height of a
bench or tabletop
and the position of
the seated
observer’s eyes .
3 Revolving The revolving nosepiece is an The revolving
nosepiece important part of a standard nosepiece holds
optical microscope. Used in multiple lenses,
classrooms and labs, the allowing the user to
optical microscope is the most turn it to achieve
popular form of microscope various levels of
due to its low cost relative to magnification.
other types of microscopes as Though the exact
well as its simplicity. level of
magnification may
vary with different
models, most
microscopes provide
a low power lens
with about 5x
magnification and a
high power lens with
about 100x
magnification
4 Coarse Part of the microscope used This knob is generally
adjustment knob when focusing specimens. used when viewing
specimens with
scanner objective
(4X). Other
objectives like low
, GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY 3
INSTRUCTOR: CHRIS PAUL PAGAOA
power and high
power objectives are
used with a fine
Adjustment knob for
clearer image in
higher resolution.
5 Fine adjustment Fine adjustment knobs are the It is used for focusing
knob smaller knobs and are also finer details of
used to raise and lower the specimens being
stage but more slowly and in a viewed. Objectives
more controlled manner under like low power and
higher magnifications. high power
objectives are used
with a fine
Adjustment knob for
clearer image in
higher resolution.
6 Handle/arm The arm connects the body Arm Area on the
tube to the base of the back of the
microscope. microscope that
supports the oculars
and objectives. Part
of the handle used
to lift and carry it.
Base The bottom of
the scope. Usually
houses the light
source, if one is
present.
7 Stage Microscope stages are All microscopes are
platforms where specimens designed to include
are placed for observation a stage where the
with a microscope. specimen (usually
mounted onto a
, GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY 4
INSTRUCTOR: CHRIS PAUL PAGAOA
glass slide) is placed
for observation.
8 Clips Stage clip is a spring piece Clips on the stage
mounted on the microscope that hold the slide in
stage for fixing the slide or the place on the
object to be observed. mechanical stage.
B. ILLUMINATING PARTS
MECHANICAL DESCRIPTION FUNCTION
PARTS
1 Ocular/ The eyepiece, or ocular lens, is An eyepiece, or ocular lens,
eyepiece the part of the microscope is a type of lens that is
that magnifies the image attached to a variety of
produced by the microscope’s optical devices such as
objective so that it can be telescopes and
seen by the human eye. microscopes. The eyepiece
Oculars, or ocular lenses, are is placed near the focal
alternative names for point of the objective to
eyepieces. To maintain magnify this image.
consistency during this
discussion, we will refer to all
oculars and ocular lenses as
eyepieces.
2 Illuminating This illuminator is built into the It provides even, high
bulb base of most microscopes. It is intensity light at the place of
also designed to transmit light the field aperture, so that
through a translucent object light can travel through the
for viewing. condenser to the specimen.
3 Iris Iris diaphragm controls the size The iris diaphragm is a
diaphragm of the opening between the design that allows
INSTRUCTOR: CHRIS PAUL PAGAOA
University of Northern Philippines
Tamag Vigan City, Ilocos Sur
Laboratory Exercise #1: The Compound Microscope
MICROBIOLOGY
NAME :
COURSE : BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY
Answer the following questions to enhance your understanding in the field of
microscopy. Cite your reference/s in APA format.
1. What is a microscope?
- An essential tool in the study of life science. It allows you to see
things that are too small to be seen with the naked eye.
2. In a tabular form, give the description and function of the
following parts of a compound microscope:
A. MECHANICAL PARTS
MECHANICAL PARTS DESCRIPTION FUNCTION
1 Draw tube The smaller of the two tubes on The upper end of the
a monocular microscope. The body tube has a
drawtube carries the ocular, it small fixed tube
can be adjusted to control which is known as
tube length and so effect the drawtube. The
corrections for the objective main function of the
lens. drawtube is to hold
the ocular lens.
2 Body tube It is a hollow tube through It separates the
which light travels from the objective and the
objective to the ocular. It eyepiece and
contains a prism at the base of assures continuous
the tube that bends the light alignment of the
, GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY 2
INSTRUCTOR: CHRIS PAUL PAGAOA
rays so they can enter the optics. It is a
inclined tube. standardized length,
anthropometrically
related to the
distance between
the height of a
bench or tabletop
and the position of
the seated
observer’s eyes .
3 Revolving The revolving nosepiece is an The revolving
nosepiece important part of a standard nosepiece holds
optical microscope. Used in multiple lenses,
classrooms and labs, the allowing the user to
optical microscope is the most turn it to achieve
popular form of microscope various levels of
due to its low cost relative to magnification.
other types of microscopes as Though the exact
well as its simplicity. level of
magnification may
vary with different
models, most
microscopes provide
a low power lens
with about 5x
magnification and a
high power lens with
about 100x
magnification
4 Coarse Part of the microscope used This knob is generally
adjustment knob when focusing specimens. used when viewing
specimens with
scanner objective
(4X). Other
objectives like low
, GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY 3
INSTRUCTOR: CHRIS PAUL PAGAOA
power and high
power objectives are
used with a fine
Adjustment knob for
clearer image in
higher resolution.
5 Fine adjustment Fine adjustment knobs are the It is used for focusing
knob smaller knobs and are also finer details of
used to raise and lower the specimens being
stage but more slowly and in a viewed. Objectives
more controlled manner under like low power and
higher magnifications. high power
objectives are used
with a fine
Adjustment knob for
clearer image in
higher resolution.
6 Handle/arm The arm connects the body Arm Area on the
tube to the base of the back of the
microscope. microscope that
supports the oculars
and objectives. Part
of the handle used
to lift and carry it.
Base The bottom of
the scope. Usually
houses the light
source, if one is
present.
7 Stage Microscope stages are All microscopes are
platforms where specimens designed to include
are placed for observation a stage where the
with a microscope. specimen (usually
mounted onto a
, GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY 4
INSTRUCTOR: CHRIS PAUL PAGAOA
glass slide) is placed
for observation.
8 Clips Stage clip is a spring piece Clips on the stage
mounted on the microscope that hold the slide in
stage for fixing the slide or the place on the
object to be observed. mechanical stage.
B. ILLUMINATING PARTS
MECHANICAL DESCRIPTION FUNCTION
PARTS
1 Ocular/ The eyepiece, or ocular lens, is An eyepiece, or ocular lens,
eyepiece the part of the microscope is a type of lens that is
that magnifies the image attached to a variety of
produced by the microscope’s optical devices such as
objective so that it can be telescopes and
seen by the human eye. microscopes. The eyepiece
Oculars, or ocular lenses, are is placed near the focal
alternative names for point of the objective to
eyepieces. To maintain magnify this image.
consistency during this
discussion, we will refer to all
oculars and ocular lenses as
eyepieces.
2 Illuminating This illuminator is built into the It provides even, high
bulb base of most microscopes. It is intensity light at the place of
also designed to transmit light the field aperture, so that
through a translucent object light can travel through the
for viewing. condenser to the specimen.
3 Iris Iris diaphragm controls the size The iris diaphragm is a
diaphragm of the opening between the design that allows
