title: Determination of red cell shape from random cross-sections.
abstract: By a computer simulation the relative proportion of specified geometrical shapes produced by the sectioning of a mass of randomly-oriented red cells is determined. It is shown that the proportions obtained on the assumption that the cells are all of identical shape are the same as if they had come from a population of cells possessing the normally accepted spread of shapes. It is suggested that a sectioning technique based on the principles presented in this paper could form the basis of a relatively simple procedure for determining on a quantitative basis deviations of red cells from their normal shape.
mesh_terms: D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D011336:Probability