Platelets and Hemostasis

platelets

important for hemostasis

hemostasis → term for blood clotting for injury; clotting factors and platelets are responsible

all overlapping stages, some happen quicker than others but have overlap

size of platelet

average about 4 micrometer in diameter

smaller than erythrocytes, but vary

(many platelets are smaller/bigger → range)

lifespan of platelet

9-12 days

(~10 days, floating inside plasma, leads to blood clotting)

average concentration of platelets

350000/microliter

thrombocytes

nucleated cells

platelets in nonmammalian vertebrates

(nonmammalian → like frogs, etc. → not fragments, associate with blood clotting and platelets)

megakaryocyte

platelets, cell fragments in humans

(fragments have different measurement than erythrocytes)

platelet formation