How Does a Dissecting Microscope Work?
Other People Are Reading
-
-
At the base of the dissecting microscope is a stage plate, a flat surface designed to support the specimen being viewed. Depending on the nature of the specimen, it is illuminated with a light source either from above or below. Relatively thin translucent objects are often best illuminated from below. In this case, the light is transmitted through the object and often highlights detailed structure of interest to the viewer.
-
A vertical support piece of one form or another supports a part of the dissecting scope that houses the objective lenses, the eyepiece or ocular lenses and the focus knobs. The eye pieces are at the top of this unit. They are usually in pairs and so allow the user a stereo view. Typically, the eye pieces are 10 power, meaning that they magnify an object 10 times. The eyepiece works in conjunction with so-called objective lenses located farther down on the unit. There may be two or more objective lenses allowing for different magnifications.
-
-
Focus knobs---usually two, one on either side---are mechanically attached to the vertical support piece. This allows the user to turn the focus knob and move the unit housing, the eye pieces and the objective lenses up or down to bring the subject into focus.
Most dissecting microscopes feature the ability to move the eye pieces to compensate for what is called inter-pupillary distance. This permits users with wider- or narrower-set eyes to have a comfortable and effective viewing position. Further, one of the eye pieces may have an adjustment called a diopter that allows the user to adjust for differences in sight capabilities between the left and right eyes.
-
Typically, the dissecting microscope will have a clear or translucent glass plate incorporated into the stage (the surface at the base of the microscope where the user places the subject for viewing). This permits transmission of light, if so selected, from beneath. There may or may not be stage clips used to hold an object or material in place on the microscope's stage.
-
