| Optical microscopes use visible light and a system of | | | | as the eyepiece part. |
| lenses to magnify small samples that are usually | | | | The old optical microscopes also used a mirror to |
| un-seen to the bare eye. The optical microscope is | | | | provide illumination below the object. The modern |
| the first, oldest and simples type of microscope (as | | | | optical microscopes use a strong lamp to provide |
| opposed to the much more advanced electronic | | | | constant and strong illumination. |
| microscope). The first optical microscopes were | | | | So what are optical microscopes used for now a |
| created in the 18th century. Due to it's compact | | | | days? |
| sizes, simplicity and relatively low price, the optical | | | | The main uses of compound optical microscopes |
| microscope is very popular, and can be found in use | | | | include: |
| in many areas of biology. Optical microscopes mostly | | | | The examining small pieces of material, or even a |
| magnify objects for up to 1500 times. | | | | smear or a squash preparation. This is due to the |
| The first optical microscopes were structured in a | | | | fact that the optical microscope uses light to pass |
| way that is called "the simple microscope". This | | | | beneath the object and enter the lenses. That's why |
| structure utilizes only one pair of lenses to create a | | | | the item is better be half-transparent. In other uses |
| magnified image of the sample. Today, the simple | | | | the optical microscope may be used to examine |
| structure is in use only in the magnifying glass, hand | | | | metal samples, in order to study the metal's |
| lens and the loupe. | | | | structure. |
| The more advances optical microscopes, and the | | | | At low power, microscopes can be used to examine |
| ones that are popular today, are what's called | | | | small living animals and plants. At high power, they |
| "compound optical microscopes". These microscopes | | | | can be used to examine bacteria. |
| use a system of many lenses, in order to | | | | It is important to note that the vast advancement in |
| "compound" and multiply the magnification, and | | | | medicinal fields and biology in general, is owed to a |
| therefore maximize it. The two main lens systems in | | | | large extent, to the invention of the optical |
| an optical microscope are the objective lens (near | | | | microscopes. For example, the way the blood flows |
| the examined object), and the eyepiece lens (up near | | | | in our body was not fully understood until the |
| the eye of the scientist). Modern optical microscopes | | | | microscope made in possible to examine small blood |
| use multiple lenses both in the objective part as well | | | | vessels behavior. |