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HOW TO VIEW A SLIDEProfessor of Biology and Chemistry University of Cincinnati Clermont College, Batavia OH 45103 |
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This page has been accessed 4 November 1987, revised 6 July 1994, 12 Sept '95, 26 June 1996, 26 Sept. '96, 3 July '97, 30 June 98, 2 July 2001 |
You are responsible for the welfare of the microscope in your numbered seat. Take care of it please. You may also have received a set of slides numbered according to your seat. You are responsible for their welfare also. Keep them clean and in good order. Check to see that they are in proper order and good condition, then sign your name on the label on the slide box cover to take responsibility for them.
In the first part of this exercise, you will evaluate the condition of your microscope as well as learn its use. Fill out the Microscope Check-In form in your desk drawer as you are instructed, date and sign your name showing it is in good working order. If the condition is anything but excellent, notify instructor.
HOW TO VIEW A SLIDE:
PREPARE THE MICROSCOPE:
1. Lower the stage all the way with the coarse focus.
2. Select the 4x objective if it is not already in position by rotating the turret.
3. Prepare the lighting:
a: Turn on the power
b: set the rheostat on 6
c: ensure that the iris
diaphragm is wide open
d: position the condensor
an eighth of an inch below the surface of the stage
PLACING THE SLIDE ON THE MICROSCOPE:
4 . Handle all slides by the edges only.
5. Open the slide retainer by pressing the jaw lever to the right. Place the slide into the "L" shaped holder (with the label to the left if it is a prepared slide). Release the jaw lever to clamp the slide into the holder.
6. Center the specimen: Using the mechanical stage, move the slide until the stained specimen is directly over the light of the condensor (the optic center of the stage). View alternately from side and front to get a best estimate of center.
7. Viewing from the side, raise the stage until until the stage stops or the objective almost touches the slide.
FOCUSING:
8. Looking through the oculars, lower the stage with the coarse focus until the
specimen comes into focus. Use the fine focus to refine the
If it never appears, re-adjust
the position of the specimen nearer the optic center, and repeat the 4x
focusing
procedure.
9. Scan the specimen
to find a field that is charactistic, well spread out and
stained.
Center the most desireable region.
10. Rotate the nosepiece to select 10x objective. (What is
the
power of the view?) Using only the fine focus, make minor focus
adjustments to sharpen the image. Center the image again. (If you lose
the view of the
specimen, go back tothe 4x objective to find it again and center more
carefully.
Is the view clear and bright?
11. Rotate the nose piece to select the 40x objective.
Make minor
adjustments in focus with fine focus. Center the desireable
region. Adjust lighting with the condensor positioning knob and
the iris diaphragm. If need be, nudge the rheostat higher to have
optimum lighting.
PROBLEMS?
To correct for differences between your R and L eyes, look through the right ocular with only the R eye and focus to sharpness. Then look through the L ocular with only the L eye, and rotate the L ocular until the image is sharp. If your eyes are closely matched, the diopter scale on the L ocular should read close to zero. Write the number in your book. Adjust interpupillary distance, write this number in your book as well. Label both clearly. Using the mechanical stage, move the slide to the L. Note that the image moves in the opposite direction of the actual slide. Is the view bright and clear? If so, write excellent under both 4x objective and ocular columns. If the view is hazy, clean with lens paper.
| HOW TO RETURN MICROSCOPE TO STORAGE:
1: Lower stage fully |
QUICK CHECK LIST:
stage lowered |