Parts of a Compound Microscope

Eyepiece (Ocular Lens)

• The eyepiece magnifies the image.

• It is the part of the microscope that is looked through.

Objective Lens

• The objective lens magnifies the image.

• Many light microscopes contain multiple objective lenses with different levels of magnification. They are attached to a revolving nosepiece and the different lenses can be selected by rotating the nosepiece.

Coarse Focus Knob

• The coarse focus knob is used for focussing the image over a wide range.

• It is the larger of the two focus knobs.

Fine Focus Knob

• The fine focus knob is used for focussing the image over a narrow range.

• It is the smaller of the two focus knobs.

Stage and Stage Clips

• The stage is the platform where the specimen is placed. The specimen is mounted onto a microscope slide, with a cover slip placed on top of it.

• The stage clips hold the microscope slide in place.

Stage Controls

• The stage controls are knobs that move the stage horizontally, to select the part of the specimen to be viewed.

Lamp

• The lamp is located under the stage and produces the light that passes through the specimen.

• Some microscopes don’t have a lamp but instead have a mirror that reflects light from an external lamp.

Arm

• The arm is the main support of the microscope. When carrying a microscope, always carry it by the arm.

Parts of a compound microscope

(Image: Bezvershenko, Adobe Stock)