Q: Refractive index in phase contrast microscopy

[ILoveLimits]

If you're using a phase contrast microscope and the refractive index of the medium is equal to the refractive index of the cell, what are you able to see? I guessed that you wouldn't see anything, but apparently that's wrong. The only options are membranes, vesicles, the nucleus, pigment granules, and a brush border.

Thank you!

 

[Andy Resnick]

This sounds like homework. The question (as posed here) is nonsensical; "the" refractive index of a cell varies throughout the volume (which is why phase contrast and DIC work so well)- on the other hand, since phase contrast etc. do not increase the spatial resolution, perhaps the question can be answered that way.