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inverted microscope

An inverted microscope is one in which the objective lens is positioned under the observation stage on which the sample is secured, with the sample being observed from below. In order to have the same observation posture as with an upright microscope, the optical path is directed up at a diagonal towards the observation tube and eyepieces.
Additionally, because the culture vessel (such as a Petri dish) needs to be observed from below, the transmitted light illumination system is arranged such that the condenser lens focuses the light onto the specimen from above. The thickness of the bottom of culture vessels is generally much greater than that of glass coverslips, as typically used with samples mounted on slides for observation with an upright microscope, resulting in the need for longer working distance objective lenses when observing cell cultures with an inverted microscope. The observation stage of an inverted microscope is generally fixed in the Z direction, with focusing performed by moving the objective lens up and down.