Geometrical Aspects During Formation of Compact Aggregates of Red Blood Cells

In the past forty years considerable progress has been achieved on the knowledge of human blood as a non-Newtonian shear-thinning suspension, whose initial state, that is at rest (stasis) or at very low shear rates, has a gel-like internal structure which is destroyed as shear stress increases. The main goal of this communication is to describe the role of geometrical aspects during RBC (red blood cell) aggregate formation, growth and compaction on naturally aggregate (porcine blood) and non-aggregate (bovine blood) samples. We consider how these aspects coupled with tension equilibrium are decisive to transform red cell linear roleaux to three-dimensional aggregates or clusters. Geometrical aspects are also crucial on the compaction of red blood cell aggregates. These densely packed aggregates could precipitate out of bloodeither as dangerous deposits on arterial walls, or as clots which travel in suspension until they block some crucial capillary.