Platelets
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Introduction
Platelets are important little fragments of cytoplasm derived from megakaryocytes. Their primary job to to plug holes in damaged blood vessels during hemostasis. Their production is called thrombopoiesis.
A healthy number of platelets is 150-400 x 109/L. Platelets are 2-4 µm.
2-3 x109 platelets per kg are formed daily. Platelets live 10 days on average.
Platelets do not contain nuclei, but they do contain mitochondria and mRNA.
granules contain ADP, leading to platelet aggregation.
GP IIb/IIIa is used to bind to other platelets during aggregation
loss of sialic acid
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