Through the Microscope: Blood Cells - Life's Blood

Echinocytes (crenated red blood cells)

Echinocytes are red blood cells with many blunt spicules, resulting from faulty drying of the blood smear or from exposure to hyperosmotic solutions. Pathological forms are associated with uremia. Echinocytes contain adequate hemoglobin and the spiny knobs are regularly dispersed over the cell surface, unlike those of acanthocytes.