Lines of Zahn are a characteristic of

thrombi A thrombus (plural thrombi), colloquially called a blood clot, is the final product of the blood coagulation step in hemostasis. There are two components to a thrombus: aggregated platelets and red blood cells that form a plug, and a mesh of cr ...

. They have layers, with lighter layers of

platelets Platelets, also called thrombocytes (from Greek θρόμβος, "clot" and κύτος, "cell"), are a component of blood whose function (along with the coagulation factors) is to react to bleeding from blood vessel injury by clumping, thereby ini ...

and

fibrin Fibrin (also called Factor Ia) is a fibrous, non-globular protein involved in the clotting of blood. It is formed by the action of the protease thrombin on fibrinogen, which causes it to polymerize. The polymerized fibrin, together with platele ...

, and darker layers of

red blood cells Red blood cells (RBCs), also referred to as red cells, red blood corpuscles (in humans or other animals not having nucleus in red blood cells), haematids, erythroid cells or erythrocytes (from Greek language, Greek ''erythros'' for "red" and ''k ...

. They are more present on thrombi formed with faster blood flow, more so on thrombi from the

heart The heart is a muscular organ in most animals. This organ pumps blood through the blood vessels of the circulatory system. The pumped blood carries oxygen and nutrients to the body, while carrying metabolic waste such as carbon dioxide t ...

and

aorta The aorta ( ) is the main and largest artery in the human body, originating from the left ventricle of the heart and extending down to the abdomen, where it splits into two smaller arteries (the common iliac arteries). The aorta distributes ...

. They are only seen on thrombi formed before death. They are named after German–Swiss pathologist

Friedrich Wilhelm Zahn Friedrich Wilhelm Zahn (14 February 1845 – 1904) was a German-Swiss pathologist born in Germersheim. His eponyms include Zahn infarct and lines of Zahn. Life Zahn studied medicine at the University of Strasbourg under Friedrich Daniel von Reck ...

Definition

Lines of Zahn are a characteristic of

. They have visible and microscopic alternating layers (laminations).

Platelets Platelets, also called thrombocytes (from Greek θρόμβος, "clot" and κύτος, "cell"), are a component of blood whose function (along with the coagulation factors) is to react to bleeding from blood vessel injury by clumping, thereby ini ...

mixed with

form lighter layers.

Red blood cells Red blood cells (RBCs), also referred to as red cells, red blood corpuscles (in humans or other animals not having nucleus in red blood cells), haematids, erythroid cells or erythrocytes (from Greek language, Greek ''erythros'' for "red" and ''k ...

form darker layers. Sometimes, the term "lines of Zahn" only refers to the lighter layers.

Evaluation

Lines of Zahn can be used to confirm diagnosis of a thrombus. Their presence implies thrombosis at a site of rapid

blood flow Hemodynamics or haemodynamics are the dynamics of blood flow. The circulatory system is controlled by homeostatic mechanisms of autoregulation, just as hydraulic circuits are controlled by control systems. The hemodynamic response continuously m ...

that happened before death. They are more common in thrombi formed in the

. In veins or smaller arteries, where flow is not as constant, they occur less frequently. They are also only seen on thrombi formed when blood is flowing. This is a distinguishing marker between thrombi that formed before death and after death.

History

Lines of Zahn are named after German–Swiss pathologist

Additional images

File:Histopathology showing lines of Zahn in a thrombus.jpg, Thrombus showing circumferential lines of Zahn. File:Laminations in a thrombus - low mag.jpg, Low magnification

micrograph A micrograph or photomicrograph is a photograph or digital image taken through a microscope or similar device to show a magnified image of an object. This is opposed to a macrograph or photomacrograph, an image which is also taken on a mic ...

showing laminations in a thrombus in a fatal

pulmonary embolism Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a blockage of an pulmonary artery, artery in the lungs by a substance that has moved from elsewhere in the body through the bloodstream (embolism). Symptoms of a PE may include dyspnea, shortness of breath, chest pain p ...

H&E stain Hematoxylin and eosin stain ( or haematoxylin and eosin stain or hematoxylin-eosin stain; often abbreviated as H&E stain or HE stain) is one of the principal tissue stains used in histology. It is the most widely used stain in medical diagnos ...

. File:Laminations in a thrombus - intermed mag.jpg, Intermediate magnification

showing laminations in a thrombus in a fatal

. File:Laminations in a thrombus - high mag.jpg, High magnification

showing laminations in a thrombus in a fatal

Definition

Evaluation

History

Additional images

References

Further reading