Name:
Period:
Microscope: Human Hair, 1
Anatomy & Physiology
Microscope Lab: Using Human Hair
Background Information:
In this laboratory, you will be using a compound light microscope to observe
human hair. Light microscopes use light and refraction (bending of light) to magnify
small objects to view them better; the term compound means that two lenses are used (an
ocular lens, or eyepiece, and an objective lens).
Before you begin studying an object under the microscope, please review the
microscope and its components. These guides are available in the lab. The basic
components of the microscope:
When you are ready to view an object under the microscope, you will place a
specimen on a glass slide with a drop of water or stain and then cover slip that specimen.
Be careful to avoid air bubbles. If you are preparing slides, a demonstration will be
given. Also, see the microscope guide if you need more assistance. This temporary slide
is called a wet mount. In many cases, prepared slides will be given to you for your
observation.
Objectives:
 To learn the parts and functions of a microscope
 To learn how to make a wet mount slide
 To learn how human hair looks underneath a microscope, the differences in
types of human hair, to make a general comparison of human
Materials:
Microscopes
Water
Slides
Pipettes
Hair Samples, including your own
Tweezers
Cover slips
Paper Towels
Procedure:
1. If the microscope is not in front of you, go get a microscope. Carry the microscope
with one hand on the base and one hand on the arm. See below. Remember a
microscope is an expensive piece of equipment!
 Set your microscope up. If you need help, ask your instructor.
2. Obtain a copy of the blank microscope image and fill in table 1.
Name:
Period:
Microscope: Human Hair, 2
Table 1:
Part
A
Name
Function
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
3. Prepare a wet mount, using human hair (already cut).
 Find a station with human hair and prepare a slide, using water (see page 1).
Clean slide before preparing a second slide. Prepare at least 2 different slides
(specimens A, B, C, or D). Always start under low power and focus before
switching to high power!
 Draw/sketch what you see in the space(s) provided (in the circles provided).
Label which hair specimens you have prepared AND which power used (on the
lines provided).
 Clean slides.
 Answer the discussion questions.
Cut Human Hair:
(Power)
(Power)
Name:
Period:
Microscope: Human Hair, 3
4. Prepare a wet mount, using your own hair.
 Pull out a strand of your own hair. Be sure to cover slip the end of your hair (the
part of your hair that contains the root). See pg 1 in preparing a wet mount.
Always start under low power and focus before switching to high power!
 Draw/sketch what you see in the space(s) provided AND which power used (in
the circles provided). Label which hair specimens you have prepared (on the
lines provided).
 Clean slide and cover slip.
 Pull out an eyelash and prepare a wet mount, following the same procedure as
above.
 Clean slide and cover slip after you sketching the eyelash and labeling the lines.
 Answer the discussion questions.
Your own Hair and Eyelash:
(Power)
(Power)
Discussion Questions:
1. What color were the hairs that you looked at?
2. Why do you always begin on the lowest power objective (lens)?
Name:
Period:
Microscope: Human Hair, 4
3. How were the textures of the hairs that you looked at different? The same?
4. How does the root of your hair look different from the shaft (the rest) of your hair?
5. Which power does hair look better under (low or high power)?
6. How was your eyelash different from your hair? How was it similar?
7. Name one thing in this lab that you learned (that you did not know before completing
this lab). Be specific.
8. If you could do anything in this lab differently, what would it be?