Sickle cell anaemia. Light micrograph of a blood smear showing normally rounded red blood cells that have become curved, elongated sickle-shaped cells
Sickle cell anaemia. Light micrograph of a blood smear showing normally rounded red blood cells that have become curved, elongated sickle-shaped cells. Sickle cell anaemia is an inherited blood disease largely affecting black people, in which the red blood cells contain abnormal haemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying pigment. In areas of deoxygenated blood the haemoglobin distorts the red blood cells into a sickle shape, causing bone ache and organ damage. The fragile sickle cells are easily destroyed in the bloodstream.
Size: 5113px × 3418px
Photo credit: © CNRI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: abnormal, anaemia, anemia, anemic, blood, cell, cells, condition, disease, disorder, drepanocytosis, erythrocyte, erythrocytes, haematological, haematology, healthcare, hematological, light, medical, medicine, micrograph, microscope, red, sickle, smear, unhealthy
