echinocyte
Sign in to saveAlso known as burr cells
thumb|Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of echinocytes thumb|Echinocyte compared to other forms of poikilocytosis Echinocyte (from the Greek word echinos, meaning 'hedgehog' or 'sea urchin'), in human biology and medicine, refers to a form of red blood cell that has an abnormal cell membrane characterized by many small, evenly spaced thorny projections. A more common term for these cells is burr cells.
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Within Vinony's link graph, echinocyte is referenced by 53 other articles, and connects out to International Standard Book Number, red blood cell and digital object identifier.
Vinony files it under Abnormal clinical and laboratory findings for RBCs and Histopathology.
Its subject is documented across 8 Wikipedia language editions.
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Encyclopedic overview
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thumb|Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of echinocytes thumb|Echinocyte compared to other forms of poikilocytosis Echinocyte (from the Greek word echinos, meaning 'hedgehog' or 'sea urchin'), in human biology and medicine, refers to a form of red blood cell that has an abnormal cell membrane characterized by many small, evenly spaced thorny projections. A more common term for these cells is burr cells.
==Physiology== Echinocytes are frequently confused with acanthocytes, but the mechanism of cell membrane alteration is different. Echinocytosis is a reversible condition of red blood cells that is often merely an artifact produced by EDTA, which is used as an anticoagulant in sampled blood. Echinocytes can be distinguished from acanthocytes by the shape of the projections, which are smaller and more numerous than in acanthocytes and are evenly spaced. Echinocytes also exhibit central pallor, or lightening of color in the center of the cell under Wright staining.
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “echinocyte” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.