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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.