Differential geometry and the red blood cell

Abstract

The usual mathematical expressions for the shape of the red blood cell, whether in rectangular or polar coordinates, are very complicated and difficult to use analytically. We have found that by using parametric equations and Jacobean elliptic functions to describe the cell things are much easier. The usual differential geometric concepts can be adapted to find interesting new formulas for ideas like Fick's Law, etc. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)