Blood clot on a sticking plaster

Scanning electron micrograph of the underside of a sticking plaster that has been used to treat a razor blade cut. Red blood cells (shown in red) and thin fibres of the protein fibrin (beige) can be seen between the gauze fibres of the plaster (blue-grey). The blood on the plaster is image creator Anne Weston's. She cut her finger on a razor blade and put a plaster over it, once healed she removed and imaged the plaster. Fibrin is a protein formed from the conversion of clotting factors in the blood; the fibrin fibers trap blood cells and platelets to form a solid clot. This not only prevents further bleeding but also protects the open wound from infection. 2011 Wellcome Image Award winner Wellcome Image Awards 2011.