Microscope slide

Microscope slide is a thin flat piece of glass, typically 75 by 26 mm (3 by 1 inches) and about 1 mm thick, used to hold objects for examination under a microscope. Typically the object is placed or secured ("mounted") on the slide, and then both are inserted together in the microscope for viewing. This arrangement allows several slide-mounted objects to be quickly inserted and removed from the microscope, interchangeably.

History

The first microscope slides were made of glass in the 19th century. The standard size of a microscope slide is about 75 by 26 mm (3 by 1 inches). The idea of a microscope slide was developed to allow for a standard way of viewing and storing small specimens under the microscope.

Types of Microscope Slides

There are several types of microscope slides, including plain slides, frosted slides, and charged slides.

• Plain slides: These are standard and commonly used microscope slides. They are typically used for routine histology and pathology.

• Frosted slides: These slides have a frosted finish on one end for easy handling, labeling, and identification.

• Charged slides: These slides are specially treated for adhesion to help cells stick to the slide.

Preparation

Microscope slides are often used with a cover slip or cover glass, a smaller and thinner sheet of glass that is placed over the specimen. The cover glass often has several functions: it holds the specimen in place (either by the weight of the cover slip or, in the case of a wet mount, by surface tension), it protects the specimen, and it adds optical properties beneficial to microscopy.

See also

• Cover slip
• Histology
• Microscopy

References

Microscope slide Resources
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