False-colour transmission electron micrograph showing the flexibility of red blood cells, or erythrocytes. Three of them are seen in a deformed state as they pass through the wall of a small capillary, which runs from top left to bottom right. This process is known as diapedesis & is a characteristic of inflammation. The capillary circulation slows down & large numbers of white cells, together with some red cells, push through the capillary wall into surrounding tissue. A quantity of blood plasma escapes at the same time. Loss of these blood components is responsible for swelling that accompanies inflammation. Magnification: x2500 at 35mm size. Ref: Microcosmos, fig. 2.43, p.37