Question

In a laser scanning confocal microscope, light emitted from the specimen is brought into

focus at a site within the scope containing a pinhole aperture; the aperture and illuminated plane in the
specimen are said to be ______.
A) parfocal
B) prefocal
C) confocal
D) antifocal
E) profocal

Answer 1

In confocal microscopy, the pinhole aperture and illuminated plane are said to be confocal, which enhances image quality and allows for three-dimensional imaging.

Step-by-step explanation:

In a laser scanning confocal microscope, light emitted from the specimen is brought into focus at a site within the scope containing a pinhole aperture; the aperture and illuminated plane in the specimen are said to be confocal.

This arrangement allows in-focus light rays to pass through to a detector, while out-of-focus light rays are blocked, resulting in a clear image of the focal plane.

This technique enhances the quality of images over conventional optical microscopy, especially for thicker specimens, and enables the creation of three-dimensional images by scanning different focal planes and compiling these images.

Answer 2

In a laser scanning confocal microscope, the pinhole aperture and the illuminated plane in the specimen are said to be confocal. This configuration allows for focused detection of light and creates high-resolution three-dimensional images. Therefore, the correct option is c) confocal.

Step-by-step explanation:

In a laser scanning confocal microscope, the system is designed to eliminate out-of-focus light and only capture light emitted from a specific focal plane within the specimen. This is achieved using a pinhole aperture to ensure that only light from the focal plane is detected, which significantly enhances image clarity, particularly for specimens with considerable thickness. The pinhole aperture, which is a crucial component, and the illuminated plane in the specimen are optically arranged such that they coincide precisely with each other. This arrangement is identified by a specific term that describes their optical alignment.

The correct word to describe this arrangement where the pinhole aperture and the illuminated plane in the specimen are optically aligned is confocal. In essence, the term confocal refers to the pinholes being in the same focal plane as that of the specimen plane being observed, which allows for the high-resolution, three-dimensional imaging capabilities of confocal microscopes.

Confocal microscopy is particularly useful for its capacity to produce sharp images by excluding out-of-focus light and capturing in-focus light rays from a specific focal plane. This light is then passed through a dichroic mirror and a second pinhole to a detector and computer system, which constructs a three-dimensional image from different focal planes. In conclusion, the correct option to complete the statement "the aperture and illuminated plane in the specimen are said to be___" is confocal.