SEM depicting red blood cells found enmeshed in a fibrinous matrix on the luminal surface of an indwelling vascular. The erythrocyte in the center had undergone the process of crenation, whereupon, it developed a number of cell wall projections, thereby, transforming it into what is termed an acanthocyte. Acanthocytosis could be indicative of a number of hematologic disease processes, but in this instance, was probably due to the fixation procedure carried out on this specimen prior to electron micrographic viewing. Note the normally appearing, biconcave cytomorphologic shape of the other eryt
SEM depicting red blood cells found enmeshed in a fibrinous matrix on the luminal surface of an indwelling vascular. The erythrocyte in the center had undergone the process of crenation, whereupon, it developed a number of cell wall projections, thereby, transforming it into what is termed an acanthocyte. Acanthocytosis could be indicative of a number of hematologic disease processes, but in this instance, was probably due to the fixation procedure carried out on this specimen prior to electron micrographic viewing. Note the normally appearing, biconcave cytomorphologic shape of the other erythrocytes, which increases their surface area of these hemoglobin-filled cells, thereby, promoting a greater degree of gas exchange, which is their primary function in an in vivo setting. What appears to be irregularly-shaped chunks of debris, are actually fibrin clumps, which when inside the living organism, functions as a key component in the process of blood clot formation, acting to entrap the red blood cells in a mesh-like latticework of proteinaceous strands, thereby, stabilizing and strengthening the clot. Magnified 7766x.
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Photo credit: © Photo Researchers / Alamy / Afripics
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