ABSTRACT
This chapter will focus on the optical methods for imaging the microstructure of biological tissues. There are many approaches for optical microscopy which use different imaging methods to observe and record structural features, but they all share the common principle of creating an enlarged image of a small object. In general, there are three requirements for an optical imaging modality. First, a magnified image of the object must be produced. Second, fine details of the object must be resolved. Third, the image must be viewable by either the eye or a recording device. While this last requirement may seem obvious, it is an important aspect of optical microscopy. This chapter will present a brief review of the basics of optical microscopy but will then shift focus to examining the sources of contrast in various implementations of microscopic imaging.
