Red Blood Cells Moving Through Blood Vessels (VIDEO)

Florida Atlantic University

Caption

Normal red blood cells move freely through small vessels throughout the body to deliver oxygen. With sickle cell disease, the misshapen red blood cells become hard and sticky, making it difficult for them to move through blood vessels. They eventually block the flow and break apart. This process results in a number of problems including severe chronic pain, stroke, organ damage, spleen dysfunction, heart failure and even death.

Credit

Melanie Gonick/MIT [with footage from Ming Dao]; <em>Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</em>.

Usage Restrictions

Please use video credit provided.

License

Licensed content

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.