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Light microscopy

These images show the most commonly used type of light microscope, the compound, bright-field microscope. It is a compound microscope because it uses two lenses to form the final image. The lenses for light microscopy are made of glass. The image on the right shows the illumination pathway through the lenses of the microscope.

Components <p>These images show the most commonly used type of light microscope, the compound, bright-field microscope.  It is a compound microscope because it uses two lenses to form the final image.  The lenses for light microscopy are made of glass.  The image on the right shows the illumination pathway through the lenses of the microscope.</p>

Components

These images show the most commonly used type of light microscope, the compound, bright-field microscope. It is a compound microscope because it uses two lenses to form the final image. The lenses for light microscopy are made of glass. The image on the right shows the illumination pathway through the lenses of the microscope.

 - Base >  <p>The illumination is white light produced by a lamp in the base.</p>

- Base >

The illumination is white light produced by a lamp in the base.

 -- Light source <p>The illumination is white light produced by a lamp in the base.</p>

-- Light source

The illumination is white light produced by a lamp in the base.

 - Stage > <p>The slide is secured to the stage and the stage can be moved in the X and Y axes by the stage control knobs.  </p>

- Stage >

The slide is secured to the stage and the stage can be moved in the X and Y axes by the stage control knobs.

 - Focusing controls <p>Focus is adjusted by coarse and fine controls.</p>

- Focusing controls

Focus is adjusted by coarse and fine controls.

 - Lenses > <p>For light microscopy, glass lenses focus the light and magnify the image. </p>

- Lenses >

For light microscopy, glass lenses focus the light and magnify the image.

 -- Substage condenser <p>After being reflected by a mirror, light from the base is focused on the slide by the substage condenser lens.</p>

-- Substage condenser

After being reflected by a mirror, light from the base is focused on the slide by the substage condenser lens.

 -- Objective lens <p>The objective lens collects the light immediately after it passes through the tissue section.  It forms an initial image and provides magnification.  Microscopes have multiple objective lenses, each with a set magnification, generally 4x, 10x, 40x and 100x.  Different objective lenses can be selected by rotating the turret to which the lenses are attached. </p>

-- Objective lens

The objective lens collects the light immediately after it passes through the tissue section. It forms an initial image and provides magnification. Microscopes have multiple objective lenses, each with a set magnification, generally 4x, 10x, 40x and 100x. Different objective lenses can be selected by rotating the turret to which the lenses are attached.

 -- Ocular lens <p>After passing through the objective lens, light is reflected to the ocular lenses, which provide an additional 10x magnification of the image.  The final magnification of the image is the product of the objective lens magnification times the ocular lens magnification.  This bright-field microscope is an example of a compound microscope because it uses two glass lenses to form the final image.</p>

-- Ocular lens

After passing through the objective lens, light is reflected to the ocular lenses, which provide an additional 10x magnification of the image. The final magnification of the image is the product of the objective lens magnification times the ocular lens magnification. This bright-field microscope is an example of a compound microscope because it uses two glass lenses to form the final image.

Optical path > <p>From its source in the base, light is reflected upwards and concentrated by the substage condenser lens.  The light passes through the tissue section mounted on a glass slide placed on the stage.  The light then passes into the objective lens, after which is it reflected to ocular lens.  The final magnification is the product of the two lens magnifications. </p>

Optical path >

From its source in the base, light is reflected upwards and concentrated by the substage condenser lens. The light passes through the tissue section mounted on a glass slide placed on the stage. The light then passes into the objective lens, after which is it reflected to ocular lens. The final magnification is the product of the two lens magnifications.

 - Substage condenser <p>From its source in the base, light is reflected upwards and concentrated by the substage condenser lens.  The light passes through the tissue section mounted on a glass slide placed on the stage.  The light then passes into the objective lens, after which is it reflected to ocular lens.  The final magnification is the product of the two lens magnifications. </p>

- Substage condenser

From its source in the base, light is reflected upwards and concentrated by the substage condenser lens. The light passes through the tissue section mounted on a glass slide placed on the stage. The light then passes into the objective lens, after which is it reflected to ocular lens. The final magnification is the product of the two lens magnifications.

 - Slide position <p>From its source in the base, light is reflected upwards and concentrated by the substage condenser lens.  The light passes through the tissue section mounted on a glass slide placed on the stage.  The light then passes into the objective lens, after which is it reflected to ocular lens.  The final magnification is the product of the two lens magnifications. </p>

- Slide position

From its source in the base, light is reflected upwards and concentrated by the substage condenser lens. The light passes through the tissue section mounted on a glass slide placed on the stage. The light then passes into the objective lens, after which is it reflected to ocular lens. The final magnification is the product of the two lens magnifications.

 - Objective lens <p>From its source in the base, light is reflected upwards and concentrated by the substage condenser lens.  The light passes through the tissue section mounted on a glass slide placed on the stage.  The light then passes into the objective lens, after which is it reflected to ocular lens.  The final magnification is the product of the two lens magnifications. </p>

- Objective lens

From its source in the base, light is reflected upwards and concentrated by the substage condenser lens. The light passes through the tissue section mounted on a glass slide placed on the stage. The light then passes into the objective lens, after which is it reflected to ocular lens. The final magnification is the product of the two lens magnifications.

 - Ocular lens <p>From its source in the base, light is reflected upwards and concentrated by the substage condenser lens.  The light passes through the tissue section mounted on a glass slide placed on the stage.  The light then passes into the objective lens, after which is it reflected to ocular lens.  The final magnification is the product of the two lens magnifications. </p>

- Ocular lens

From its source in the base, light is reflected upwards and concentrated by the substage condenser lens. The light passes through the tissue section mounted on a glass slide placed on the stage. The light then passes into the objective lens, after which is it reflected to ocular lens. The final magnification is the product of the two lens magnifications.

Image source >  <p>Carl Zeiss AG, Oberkochen, Germany</p>

Image source >

Carl Zeiss AG, Oberkochen, Germany