Beschreibung: | VP 4766420, This scanning electron micrograph (SEM) depicted a number of red blood cells found enmeshed in a fibrinous matrix on the luminal surface of an indwelling vascular catheter; Magnified 7766x. In this instance, the indwelling catheter was a tube that was left in place creating a patent portal directly into a blood vessel. The erythrocyte in the upper-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 , or spur cell . Acanthocytosis , or the formation of spur cells in a blood specimen, 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. In their adult phase, these cells possess no nucleus. What appears to be irregularly-shaped chunks of debris are actually fibrin clumps, which when inside the living organism, function 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, in much the same way as rebar acts to strengthen and reinforce cement. [Urhebervermerk: CDC/ JANICE CARR/BSIP/vario images] [JEGLICHE VERWENDUNG nur gegen HONORAR und BELEG. URHEBER/AGENTURVERMERK wird gemaess Paragraph 13 UrhG und unserer AGB ausdruecklich verlangt. Es gelten ausschliesslich unsere AGB. Tel: +49-228-28616232, www.vario-images.com] |