Microscope stages are platforms where specimens are placed for observation with a microscope. They are often equipped with a mechanical device which holds the specimen slide in place, but allows the back-and-forth and side-to-side movement of the slide. There are many different types of microscope stages. Examples include automated, manual, motorized, rotary, and Z-axis stages. The motion and operation of an automated stage is controlled from a personal computer (PC) or other control system. By contrast, manual stages are adjusted by hand. Motorized stages such as scanning stages have a motorized drive system to move the slide. Scanning stages can be designed to hold one slide or multiple slides, allowing the user to examine numerous samples without changing slides on the microscope stage and refocusing the lens. Rotating or rotary stages are round platforms that can rotate 360 degrees, and typically come with a measurement scale printed on the edge. Z-axis stages allow adjustments to the distance from the microscope to the stage surface.