Lines of Zahn
Lines of Zahn are a characteristic of thrombi that appear particularly when formed in the heart or aorta. They have visible and microscopic alternating layers of platelets mixed with fibrin, which appear lighter and darker layers of red blood cells. Their presence implies thrombosis at a site of rapid blood flow that happened before death. In veins or smaller arteries, where flow is not as constant, they are less apparent.
They are named after German–Swiss pathologist Friedrich Wilhelm Zahn.
Lines of Zahn are only seen when thrombi is formed in flowing blood as it is a distinguishing marker between ante-mortem and postmortem thrombi formation.Additional images
