Re: Where can I find the parts of a compound microscope? Labeled?

There are a number of good resources for information about microscopy and 
using microscopes.  Because you submitted this question via the Internet, 
I'll assume that you have access to the World Wide Web and recommend a web 
site for you to check-out:
 http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/anatomy/introduction.html

This site describes the history of microscopes, and displays labeled 
diagrams of many different historical and current microscopes.

If you are interested in a good book on microscopy, check your school or 
city library for "The Microscope Book" by Shar Levine and Leslie Johnstone. 
 It has a lot of pictures, and describes everything from the basics of 
optics to the parts of a compound microscope.

I hope you find these sources useful, and get a chance to work on a 
microscope yourself.  I personally use a number of different microscopes 
everyday in my research on muscle tissue. I often use a compound microscope 
like the one you are asking about, a dissecting microscope that allows me 
to see small things in 3-D and a transmission electron microscope that 
allows me to look a very small details in muscle tissue.

If you have additional questions feel free to send me an e-mail directly.


Rob Bellin

rbellin@iastate.edu

Muscle Biology Group
Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
Iowa State University