Yutaka Yoshimuta and Nozomi Ytow
Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305, Japan
(Received November 16, 1991; Accepted May 22, 1992)
Keywords: 3D-morphometry, erythrocyte, diffractometry, computer simulation
Abstract. A dynamic and three-dimensional morphometry is investigated by diffractometry to observe the orientation, rotation, and deformation of erythrocytes subjected to a shear field. Diffractometry has been applied to separate deformation from translation of the erythrocytes. The thickness and orientation of the rotating erythrocyte in a shear field, however, can be taken into account in the diffractometry referring to the diffraction pattern of a model disk of the erythrocyte. In order to investigate the relationship between the orientation of an erythrocyte and the diffraction patterns, various orientations of a model disk are Fourier transformed into diffraction patterns with the aid of a computer. It is found that the radius, thickness, and orientation of the model are determined from the density, modulation and asymmetry of the diffraction fringes, respectively.