What is a dissecting scope?

Dissecting microscopes are low-magnification microscopes that can focus on a three-dimensional object that is too thick to be viewed in a regular compound microscope. Dissecting microscopes are also called stereo microscopes as they are designed to allow three-dimensional objects to be seen in three dimensions.

Due to the samples in most dissecting scopes being too thick for light to transmit properly, most dissecting microscopes use incident light. This refers to light reflected off the surface of the sample. Dissecting microscopes can be used for such techniques as microsurgery, dissection and any other work that requires both magnification and three-dimensional vision.