GuideDiagnostic Laboratory Methods

Light Microscopy

Light Microscopy is a technique for producing visible images of structures or details which are too small to be otherwise seen by the human eye. It involves passing light transmitted through or reflected from the subject through a series of lenses to be detected directly by the eye, imaged on a photographic plate, or captured digitally.

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Updated
2026-10-18
Author
National Cancer Institute (source definition)
Reviewer
Automated source check (NCI definition)

Review and references

Author

National Cancer Institute (source definition)

Reviewer

Automated source check (NCI definition)

Published

2026-10-19

Updated

2026-10-19

Disclaimer

professional use

What it is

Light Microscopy is a technique for producing visible images of structures or details which are too small to be otherwise seen by the human eye. It involves passing light transmitted through or reflected from the subject through a series of lenses to be detected directly by the eye, imaged on a photographic plate, or captured digitally.

Source: National Cancer Institute, NCI Thesaurus 26.09d, C17995. NCI definition, reproduced without modification under CC BY 4.0.

Source identity and definition checked automatically on 2026-10-18. No individual clinical interpretation or human reviewer is asserted.

Compliance note

Reference intervals and interpretation depend on the laboratory, specimen, method and clinical context. This source definition is educational information; it does not establish a diagnosis, product approval or suitability for an individual.