- Microscopy
- The examination of minute objects by means of a microscope, an instrument which provides an enlarged image of an object not visible with the naked eye. Aside from the usual microscopy, there are various special types of microscopy including, for example: {{}}Electron microscopy — Microscopy in which an electron beam replaces light to form the image. Fluorescence microscopy — Microscopy based on the fact that fluorescent materials emit visible light when they are irradiated with ultraviolet (UV) rays. Immune electron microscopy — Electron microscopy of biological specimens to which a specific antibody has been bound. Immunofluorescence microscopy — Microscopy done using antibodies labeled with a fluorescing substance and a fluorescence microscope to detect the binding of the antibody through the production of a characteristic visible light under UV light. Nomarski microscopy — An unusual type of microscopy requiring a special optical system (Nomarski optics) to do "differential interference contrast microscopy." Time-lapse microscopy — Microscopy in which the same object is photographed at regular intervals over time to, for example, observe a cell go through division. The word "microscopy" comes from Greek roots: mikros, small + skopeo, to view = to view small (objects).
* * *Investigation of minute objects by means of a microscope. SEE ALSO: microscope.- epiluminescence m. low-power m. (×50–×100), commonly a television microscope applied to a glass slide covering mineral oil on the surface of a skin lesion, e.g., to determine malignancy in pigmented lesions. SYN: surface m..- fluorescence m. a procedure based on the fact that fluorescent materials emit visible light when they are irradiated with ultraviolet or violet-blue visible rays; some materials manifest this property naturally, whereas others may be treated with fluorescent solutions (somewhat analogous to staining); when the absorption of the specimen is in the relatively long ultraviolet range, a filter that transmits these radiations is used, and a yellow filter is placed on or in the ocular; the background field is then dark, and any yellow or red fluorescence becomes visible.- surface m. SYN: epiluminescence m..- time-lapse m. m. in which the same object ( E.G., a cell) is photographed at regular time intervals over several hours.
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mi·cros·co·py (mi-krosґkə-pe) [micro- + -scopy] examination under or observation by means of the microscope.
Medical dictionary. 2011.
