Open hairpins rising from a winding network

Long hairpin capillaries with narrow apices and occasional lateral bends. The deeper vessels have more curved courses.

Long hairpin capillaries with narrow apices and occasional lateral bends. The deeper vessels have more curved courses.
Long hairpin capillaries with narrow apices and occasional lateral bends. The deeper vessels have more curved courses.

Image details

Pattern
Tortuous capillaries
Author or contributor
Borja Gracia Tello
Hallmarks
Tortuous capillariesUnequal capillary calibers
Magnification
200×
Device
Optilia Digital Capillaroscope
Field of view (W × H)
≈ 1.71 × 1.28 mm
Open full-size image

Teaching point

Density is the number of visible capillaries per linear millimeter in the distal row.

Clinical caveat

This image illustrates a visual finding and should be interpreted with acquisition quality, distribution across fingers, clinical context, and serology when relevant.

Use and licensing

Educational material. For reuse outside Capillaroscopy.com, request permission and preserve the stated attribution.

Related images

Back to atlas
A field from the normal reference study, showing the distal row of narrow loops. Use the full study to compare density and shape across fingers.Normal reference: distal capillary rowDark hemorrhagic deposits alongside capillary loops in the nonspecific reference study. Hemorrhage alone does not define a scleroderma pattern.Nonspecific pattern: hemorrhagic fieldHairpin capillaries with rounded apices of different widths. The deeper vascular network is visible.A capillary row above the deeper vascular networkSlender capillaries with rounded apices and mildly tortuous limbs, especially right of center.Straight apices above winding limbs