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Fluid Drop-Like Transition of Erythrocytes under Shear

1969; American Association for the Advancement of Science; Volume: 165; Issue: 3890 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1126/science.165.3890.288

1095-9203

H. Schmid‐Schönbein, Roe E. Wells,

Rheology and Fluid Dynamics Studies

Red cells dispersed in a continuous medium of high viscosity possess the flow properties of fluid drops. The cells at rest are biconcave, while under shear they become progressively deformed into prolate ellipsoids, their long axis aligned parallel to the flow direction. The red cell membrane rotates around the hemoglobin like a tread of a tank. At high rates of shear this mechanism greatly reduces viscosity at all hematocrit values.