Microscopy is what?

The importance of science in the life of the whole society is very difficult to deny. Scientists and their developments have given society everything that it now enjoys with joy and enjoyment. Developments of scientists in different fields allow you to defeat deadly diseases, combat mental disorders, create a unique "smart" technique and even robots. The possibilities of science are truly limitless. New faces always bring with them new ideas that become the basis for future developments. However, many developments are based on simple and proven methods.

Many sages of the past have said that there is a macro-microcosm. At that stage of development, people could not understand the depth of these words. After all, the macro and micro world really exist and interact very closely. Tiny changes in the structure of the cell can be caused by global changes in the solar system. To date, to prove or disprove such a relationship is very difficult, but exploring the world of bacteria and cells suggests that the cell is a small universe.

Microscopy

Microscopy is the scientific study of objects using a microscope. In Greek, this word means "small, small". Microscopy can be subdivided into several subspecies: optical, multiphoton, x-ray, laser and electronic. The purpose of this method of investigation is to increase the observation of the object and to record the observed changes.

History of the microscope

At the beginning of its historical development, microscopes were optical instruments that used rays of visible light. Such instruments were very weak for observation and were suitable only for the simplest operations. The idea of an electron microscope arose at a time when scientists were thinking about replacing the electromagnetic radiation with an electron beam. This event became a reference point for the development of the electron microscope, which greatly expanded the possibilities of observing the object.

Methods of microscopy

In order to properly and carefully examine an object, you need to work on a certain algorithm. Similar algorithms are developed once and are applied for years. In order to study the surrounding world with the help of special equipment, you need to own special methods. Microscopy methods are a set of different algorithms, following which one can thoroughly and systematically study a specific object of the microworld. The passage of a beam of light through a microscope is accompanied by some changes in the initial characteristics that can be caused by the structural structure of the object. This process can be accompanied by a series of optical effects, such as reflection, absorption, refraction, dispersion, etc.

Methods of light microscopy

Light microscopy is a system of methods that use various optical effects to reliably display results. The visible elements and the nature of the resulting image will largely depend on the lighting. In total there are a lot of methods of microscopy: light field, oblique illumination, interference contrast, dark field, polarization method, phase-contrast, ultraviolet, luminescent, infrared microscopy, confocal microscope.

All these methods have certain advantages and disadvantages. When working with a sample, one or another method should be chosen based on its adequacy in this situation. The strengths and weaknesses of each method are not important in general, the main thing is that the method be applicable under the given conditions.

Microscopy and Medicine

The use of microscopy in medicine has great potential. Today, thanks to microscopes, it is possible to examine various cells of the human body in order to accurately determine the state of health. The cells of the body give the most accurate and reliable result, which until recently was impossible to obtain, since microscopes could not provide exhaustive information.

The use of such devices is very promising, because the methods of treatment and diagnostics can dramatically change and completely move to a new level. Research using microscopes is known and applied for a long time, however, science is on the verge of treating a person with cells. This is a unique opportunity that will allow you to move away from the usual methods of treatment and forget about medicines. The cell is the most powerful element of the body. Talking about the benefits of transplantation to a sick person in healthy cells is simply meaningless, because it's obvious.

Urine examination

The general analysis of urine is a complex of measures that are aimed at studying the properties of urine and its physico-chemical composition. Important indicators in this case are color, odor, reaction, transparency, density, as well as the content of various substances in the urine. Microscopy of urine sediment allows to determine the presence of salts, cell elements and cylinders. It should be understood that urine is the final product of kidney activity, which can very accurately reflect the state of metabolic processes and blood in the body.

Urinal sediment analysis

Microscopy of urine allows to create a more complete picture with a complete examination of the body. Also a smear is often used for routine and differential diagnosis of urinary tract and kidney diseases. During the treatment, microscopy of urine can be prescribed in order to obtain an evaluation of the effectiveness of the doctor's intervention. A urine test can identify specific or potential problems in the water-electrolyte balance of the body, also in the process of metabolism. Urine analysis is very effective in diagnosing diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as in infectious and inflammatory processes in the body. Sometimes microscopy of urine is used to monitor a patient's condition during therapeutic or surgical treatment.

Blood examination under a microscope

Blood cells form in the red bone marrow, and then are thrown into the bloodstream. Each cell of blood performs its specific function. Leukocytes are needed to fight infectious cells, red blood cells help enrich oxygen cells and remove carbon dioxide from them, platelets are very important for hemostasis. Under normal conditions, the human body produces the normative meaning of all cells, which does not go beyond a certain framework. If there are any complications or if the disease occurs, the blood cells can change their size, shape, color and quantity. Only thanks to an accurate microscopic examination can you determine the state of cells and draw appropriate conclusions.

Blood is the life-giving fluid of the body, which ensures the exchange of beneficial substances between all cells. Microscopy of a blood smear is a study that is performed under a microscope. The preparation prepared from one drop of blood is investigated. This procedure is included in the general blood test or the leukocyte formula and is not separately performed.

Smear microscopy

What is a blood smear for? The microscopy of the blood smear gives the specialist very important knowledge about the state of human health. Using this analysis, it is possible to determine the quantitative ratio of erythrocytes, platelets, white blood cells, as well as their shape and size. In addition, the clinical analysis of blood can determine the quantitative expression of immature leukocytes, which is very important in a number of diseases. Also, a blood smear allows qualitatively diagnosing diseases that can be associated with violations of blood functions, its formation, coagulability, as well as the destruction of blood cells. A very important task of a microscopic smear on the blood is regular monitoring of the state of blood cells, their maturity after radiation and chemotherapy, with problems with hemoglobin, as well as with leukemia.

A blood smear is prescribed if the total blood test showed that the quantitative expression of leukocytes, immature or atypical cells is increased. For a smear, you can use a biomaterial from blood or capillaries.

Biology and Microscopes

Biology greatly expands the possibilities of using microscopes. As mentioned before, cytology relies heavily on modern and powerful microscopes. Microscopy in biology offers unprecedented opportunities for scientists to experiment and research. Modern developments allow us now to talk about what kind of future awaits us.

Microscopy in biology has a very wide application. Devices allow you to explore organisms that are inaccessible to the eye of a person, but are very important for scientific experiments. In biology, the most commonly used method is electron microscopy, which gives an image due to the directional flow of electrons. In this case, even a light microscope allows you to explore living biological objects.

Phase-contrast microscopy is one of the methods that is widely used in microbiology, parasitology, hematology. It allows you to study the cells of microorganisms, plants, animals, count bone marrow cells, blood. It is worth noting that phase-contrast microscopy is able to designate only the contours of objects.

The method of microscopy in biology is used very actively, since practically all varieties are applicable for biological research. Interference microscopy makes it possible to investigate transparent liquids and objects, and also to give them a qualitative analysis. This is possible due to the fact that a ray of light passing through the device splits: one part passes through the object, and the other - past. Thus, the two beams interfere and join, giving a full-fledged image.

Microscopy in different fields of application

The scope of microscopy is very wide. Despite the fact that initially microscopes were intended for research in the field of biology, to date, the scope of their influence has expanded significantly. Microscopy is a complex of methods that has found its application in the analysis of solid and crystalline bodies, structure and structures of surfaces. Also microscopes are actively used in medicine not only for diagnostics, but also for microsurgical operations. Moreover, it is known that scientists have developed an underwater laser microscope, whose purpose is to search for extraterrestrial life in Europe.

Also, one should not forget about the rapid development of nanotechnology, which is inconceivable without microscopes. The development of this industry leads to the fact that varieties of micro devices are constantly being improved. Moreover, new types of microscopes are appearing , which are intended for the study of a certain medium.

Summarizing some results, it should be said that microscopy is a promising area, which is developing more and more actively every year. Interest in human stem cells, as well as the development of nanotechnology, leads to the fact that microscopes become an integral part of any research work.