[Role of erythrocyte deformability in erythrocyte transit time and bioavailability of O2].

The bioavailability of oxygen and its transfer towards all of the cells of the body essentially depends on the flow rate of red blood cells in the capillaries, which often have a smaller diameter than the red cell itself. The authors discuss the results obtained for the mean transit time of erythrocytes, based on microfiltration through artificial polycarbonate capillaries with a diameter of 5 microns, a length of 13 microns and a density of 4.10(5) pores/cm2.