We discuss the mechanics of a lipid bilayer with a conforming cytoskeletal membrane in which the bilayer has the structure of a nematic liquid crystal and the cytoskeleton that of a simple elastic solid.Under certain conditions the cytoskeletal membrane mimics the effects of the so-called spontaneous curvature of the conventional theory of lipid membranes.The model is used to predict the classical biconcave discoid shape of red-blood cells in equilibrium.
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