Biomaterial Database

Cell surfaces and fractal dimensions. 1991

K M Keough, and P Hyam, and D A Pink, and B Quinn

Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St John's, Canada.

The perimeters of the surface membranes of some different cell types have been digitized from electron micrographs and the data analysed in order to discover whether the perimeter can be described by a fractal dimension, df. Micrographs obtained at various magnifications and subsequently enlarged by different amounts have been used. Values of df ranging from 1.02 to 1.34 were manifested over a scale length of about one order of magnitude. Values of df were independent of the magnification, and were the same for cells of the same type. Possible implications of these results are discussed.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007668	Kidney	Body organ that filters blood for the secretion of URINE and that regulates ion concentrations.	Kidneys
D008214	Lymphocytes	White blood cells formed in the body's lymphoid tissue. The nucleus is round or ovoid with coarse, irregularly clumped chromatin while the cytoplasm is typically pale blue with azurophilic (if any) granules. Most lymphocytes can be classified as either T or B (with subpopulations of each), or NATURAL KILLER CELLS.	Lymphoid Cells,Cell, Lymphoid,Cells, Lymphoid,Lymphocyte,Lymphoid Cell
D008433	Mathematics	The deductive study of shape, quantity, and dependence. (From McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 6th ed)	Mathematic
D009504	Neutrophils	Granular leukocytes having a nucleus with three to five lobes connected by slender threads of chromatin, and cytoplasm containing fine inconspicuous granules and stainable by neutral dyes.	LE Cells,Leukocytes, Polymorphonuclear,Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes,Polymorphonuclear Neutrophils,Neutrophil Band Cells,Band Cell, Neutrophil,Cell, LE,LE Cell,Leukocyte, Polymorphonuclear,Neutrophil,Neutrophil Band Cell,Neutrophil, Polymorphonuclear,Polymorphonuclear Leukocyte,Polymorphonuclear Neutrophil
D002462	Cell Membrane	The lipid- and protein-containing, selectively permeable membrane that surrounds the cytoplasm in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.	Plasma Membrane,Cytoplasmic Membrane,Cell Membranes,Cytoplasmic Membranes,Membrane, Cell,Membrane, Cytoplasmic,Membrane, Plasma,Membranes, Cell,Membranes, Cytoplasmic,Membranes, Plasma,Plasma Membranes
D004848	Epithelium	The layers of EPITHELIAL CELLS which cover the inner and outer surfaces of the cutaneous, mucus, and serous tissues and glands of the body.	Mesothelium,Epithelial Tissue,Mesothelial Tissue,Epithelial Tissues,Mesothelial Tissues,Tissue, Epithelial,Tissue, Mesothelial,Tissues, Epithelial,Tissues, Mesothelial
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001202	Ascitic Fluid	The serous fluid of ASCITES, the accumulation of fluids in the PERITONEAL CAVITY.	Peritoneal Effusion,Peritoneal Fluid,Ascitic Fluids,Effusion, Peritoneal,Fluid, Ascitic,Fluid, Peritoneal,Peritoneal Effusions,Peritoneal Fluids
D012515	Mast-Cell Sarcoma	A unifocal malignant tumor that consists of atypical pathological MAST CELLS without systemic involvement. It causes local destructive growth in organs other than in skin or bone marrow.	Mastocytoma, Malignant,Sarcoma, Mast-Cell,Malignant Mastocytoma,Malignant Mastocytomas,Mast Cell Sarcoma,Mast-Cell Sarcomas,Mastocytomas, Malignant,Sarcoma, Mast Cell,Sarcomas, Mast-Cell