What is the primary purpose of a microscope in healthcare?

The primary purpose of a microscope in healthcare is to examine microorganisms. Microscopes allow healthcare professionals to observe samples that are too small to be seen with the naked eye, such as bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens. This capability is vital for diagnosing infections, studying cellular structures, and conducting research in microbiology. By properly utilizing a microscope, technicians and pathologists can identify specific microorganisms and understand their characteristics, which can influence treatment decisions and patient care.

The other options relate to different tools and techniques used in healthcare. Measuring temperature and blood pressure typically involves specific instruments like thermometers and sphygmomanometers, which are designed for those purposes. Listening to internal sounds, such as heartbeats or lung sounds, is done using a stethoscope, illustrating how various instruments serve specialized functions in healthcare diagnostics. Each of these tools plays an important role but does not fulfill the function of examining microscopic entities, which is the essential role of a microscope in a medical context.