The fundamental difference lies in the orientation of the optical components:
Upright Microscope:
Light source and condenser are located below the stage.
Objectives are positioned above the stage, pointing downwards towards the specimen.
Typically used for examining:
l Thinly prepared slides
l Small samples
l Fixed specimens
Inverted Microscope:
Light source and condenser are positioned above the specimen.
Objectives are located below the stage, pointing upwards towards the specimen.
Designed for:
l Examining samples in larger containers
l Easier sample manipulation
l Observing living cells in culture