What Roles Do Microscopes Have in Modern Medicine?

Microscopes play a huge role in the medical community, from providing clues to help form a diagnosis to helping guide a surgeon’s hands in some of the most delicate procedures. There are various types of microscopes used in the medical field including standard light microscopes to electron microscopes to scanning microscopes and more. They play a significant part in helping advance medicine.

Background and Uses
Microscopes are used to magnify many different materials so that they can be seen by various medical staff. Microscopes are commonly used to analyze various tissue samples as well as bodily fluids and other samples. In addition, microscopes are often used to display small fields of vision onto larger screens in surgery so that repairs can be made. Almost every specialty and subspecialty in the medical community relies on microscopes to help them conduct the duties associated with their respective fields.
Diagnosis
Microscopes are used to help doctors identify the root cause of illness in many instances. For example, body fluids, mucus or other samples can be analyzed to detect the presence of bacteria or viruses that may be causing an infection. In addition, various tissue samples can be analyzed to look for abnormalities that might suggest the presence of cancer or other health conditions. Blood can be analyzed to determine whether or not cells are present that indicate infection or other problem. Physicians and technicians rely heavily on the use of various types of microscopes to provide the clues they need to determine what is going on inside the body of their patients so that a treatment protocol can be developed and treatment can begin.
Surgery
In addition to playing a vital role in the diagnostic process, many surgeons use microscopes to not only analyze tissue samples, but to identify problem areas that need surgical correction as well as creating a more visible field of vision for better results during delicate procedures. For example, vascular surgeons and neurosurgeons often use microscopes to magnify the size of the vessels and nerves inside the body in order to ensure that the procedure is being performed properly. In addition, microscopes are often used in conjunction with cameras during minimally invasive laparoscopic procedures are performed.

Modern medicine wouldn’t be where it is today without the microscope. They are used every day to help doctors identify problems and guide solutions. You can find out more about the benefits of using microscopes here.