Color enhanced scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of red blood cells found enmeshed in a fibrinous matrix on the luminal surface of an indwelling vascular; 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 centre 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 |