Red blood cells

[Question]

Simple question, i know in humans red blood cells have a particular shape; round with a concave surface on both sides. Is the basic shape of these cells the same in all mammals?

[MrMistery]

I think so. I know for a fact mamals are the only animals that have RBC with no nucleus.

Oh, unless you have the pesky sickle cell anemia..

[cardiorrhexis]

Is the basic shape of these cells the same in all mammals?

NO NO NO NO NO!!!!!!!


Some are spherical (dogs, cats, humans...most really), but some are elyptical, some are tear drop shape, some are crescent shaped and some are oval shape...

True, mammals have NO nucleus where birds and reptiles do.

llama RBC's


caprine RBC's


equine RBC's



and just for giggles...
avian RBC's

[MrMistery]

Ok. I stand corrected. Anyway red blood cell shape was never one of my strong spots
A little correction(and i am sure about this):
In humans they are not spherical, they have the shape of a biconcave disc. This gives them more surface area with less volume

[cardiorrhexis]

Yes, I think they're biconcave in many mammals....but spherical at an arial view so to speak (microscope view)....sorry about that...

have you seen the electron microscope pictures of RBC's?? I LOVE it!



The big purple thing is a platelet! Isn't that the coolest thing?

[Dr.Stein]

IMO lymphocyte is the one that actually gives a great view by EM, a tound with a lot of "short tentacles" here and there, the markers

[cardiorrhexis]

I think it's a platelet...Usually lymphocytes are much larger than RBC's and take a more uniform shape than platelets do...





Here's an electron microscope image of a lymphocyte alone



Here's an electron microscope image of platelet alone...

[cardiorrhexis]

OH! Here you go!!!

Here's a couple RBC's with Lymphocytes....

[cardiorrhexis]

Sorry for the threadjack by the way!