Why is having basic microscopy skills important for A&P students?

Fundamental microscopy skills are essential for anatomy and physiology students, as understanding the human body requires examining the microscopic structure of cells and tissues. The direct visualization enhances the student's comprehension of physiological processes and disease mechanisms at the cellular level.

Identifying the parts of a microscope:

Ocular tube: The part of the microscope that you look into. Its primary function is to align and direct light from the objective lens to the eyepiece. (Has a magnification of 10x.)

Nosepiece: Holds the objective lenses and allows the user to switch between different magnifications by rotating it.

Objectives: The primary lenses responsible for magnifying the specimen. Located on the nosepiece, these lenses differ in magnification to provide greater detail of the specimen. (Has magnifications of 4x, 10x, 40x, and other microscopes can have a fourth objective that has a magnification of 100x.)

Stage: This serves as the platform where the slide containing the specimen is placed for observation. It typically includes stage clips or a mechanical stage to hold the slide securely.

Stage Clips: Holds the specimen slide securely in place on the stage. This prevents the slide from shifting or moving.

Diaphragm: Controls the amount of light that passes through the specimen, located beneath the stage, typically as part of the condenser system.

Light Source: Illuminate the specimen under observation, allowing the viewer to magnify and observe details.

Base: Provides stability to the device and allows the user’s hands to be free to manipulate other aspects of the microscope or document relevant observations.

Arm: Provides structural support and serves as a handle for carrying the microscope. It connects the base to the head and houses the coarse and fine focus adjustment knobs.

Coarse Adjustment: Serves the essential function of rapidly adjusting the focus of the microscope's objective lens to bring the specimen into a rough focus range.

Fine Focus: Its primary function is to fine-tune the focus of the microscope to achieve optimal clarity and detail.

Light Adjustment: Serves as the main brightness adjustment, located on the base of the microscope. Adjust the brightness by slightly turning the dial.

Demonstrating how to use a microscope:

When carrying a microscope, place a hand under the base as well as having a firm hand on the arm of the microscope to ensure that the microscope is not dropped.

When placing a slide on the stage, open the stage clip and insert the slide into the space.

After placing the slide snug into the spacing, gently release the stage clip to hold the specimen slide in place.

Using the coarse adjustment knob you can move the stage to be further/closer to the objectives. Only use the coarse adjustment when using the scanning magnification of 4x (the red banded objective).

Using the fine focus adjustment knob you can further focus on your specimen slide under magnification of 10x, 40x, and 100x.

When putting away a microscope, ensure that you have returned to the 4x magnification objective and have turned the switch to "off". Properly tie up the power cord and place the microscope back in its appropriate storing place while carrying the microscope by the arm with a firm hand underneath the base.

Interphase

G1 phase - There are duplicate structures.

Synthesis phase -
Helicase: Uncoils/unzips DNA H-bonds.

DNA polymerase: Introduces new complementary bases.

Condense into chromosomes.

G2 phase - Final prep, last-minute duplications.

Prophase

Condense chromosomes.

Nuclear envelope disintegrates.

Centrioles migrate to opposite poles.

Metaphase

Chromosomes align at the cell equator.

Anaphase

Chromosomes are pulled apart.

Telophase

Chromosomes reach opposite poles, nuclear envelope re-forms.

Cytokinesis

Cytoplasmic division.