Platelets

By:
Tarek khaleefa alwaan.

Supervised by:
Dr. Youssif
 2020
Introduction

Platelets, also called thrombocytes are a component of blood  whose function

(along with the coagulation factors) is to react to bleeding from blood vessel

injury by clumping, thereby initiating a blood clot. Platelets have no cell

nucleus: they are fragments of cytoplasm that are derived from

the megakaryocytes of the bone marrow, which then enter the circulation.

.

Circulating unactivated platelets are biconvex discoid (lens-shaped) structures,  2–

3 µm in greatest diameter.  Activated platelets have cell membrane projections
covering their surface. Platelets are found only in mammals, whereas in other
vertebrates (e.g. birds, amphibians) thrombocytes circulate as intact mononuclear

cells.
 Platelets are referred to as thrombocytes because of their sealing function i.e.
they form a thrombus, or plug, when there is a break in the circulatory system.Are
about 40 times more common than leukocytes in the blood.

STRUCTURE 
Platelets do not have nuclei .Platelets are discoid-shaped packages of cytoplasm
surround by a membrane. Platelets surface has many openings that extended deeply
into the interior of the structure which give the platelets a sponglike appearance.
Clotting factors such as factor I (fibrinogen), factor V (labile factor) & factor VIII
(antihemophilic factor A) are adhere to these openings.. Also the membrane
contain large amount of phospholipids [(platelet factor 3(PF3)] which plays an
important role in clotting process. 
The platelet cytoplasm contains large quantities of ADP, ATP, serotonin, Ca & ++

thromboxanes A2, factor XIII &, actin & myosin (that can cause contraction of
the platelet these contractile proteins are important in clot retraction). 
Normal count
the normal concentration of platelet in the blood is 200,000 – 500,000
platelets/c.mm. Average value is 300,000/c.mm (1ml). Thrombocytopenia: is a
condition in which the platelet count is greatly reduced. While thrombocytosis.

Life span: is 5 – 9 days.

Thrombopoiesis: is the process of platelet production or development: All platelets

are divided from cells in bone marrow called megakaryoblasts, The maturation of
megakaryocytes is regulated by growth factor called thrombopoietin.

Functions
Platelets form the second major component of the haemostatic system. Platelets
have several functions, all of which are related to haemeostasis (prevention of
blood loss). Platelets play an important role in preventing blood loss in the
following ways:
1.Blood loss from intact blood vessel is preventing by the structure of the
endothelial cells that form the vessel walls. Endothelial cells lined the inner
surface of blood vessels & are attached to the collagen fibers in the connective
tissues of blood vessel .Endothelial cells form tight junction and prevent loss of
blood cells & plasma proteins from the circulation. Platelets are required to
maintain the structural integrity of the vessel walls. When endothelial cells
separate in the intact blood vessels, platelets fill small gaps that may have
occurred thus prevent the loss of blood cells & plasma from the circulation.
When the number of platelets is reduced (i.e. thrombocytopenia), the gaps
appear between the cells & blood leaks out of blood vessels into the tissues .So
Platelets play a role in keeping endothelial cells in good shape.
2.The formation of platelet plugs, that seal holes in damaged blood vessel walls as
a result of vessel injury, is known as the primary haemostatic plug .formation & it
greatly limits the loss of blood from the circulation.

3.The formation of clots, which help seal off larger wounds in the vessels. This
process of haemostasis is called secondary haemostasis.

Haemostasis

means arrest of bleeding which is very important to the maintenance of

homeostasis. If not stopped excessive bleeding from a cut or torn blood vessel can
result in a positive feedback pathway, consisting of decreasing blood volume &
blood pressure & resulting in death. Haemostasis can be divided into two types:

1. Primary haemostasis. 2. Secondary haemostasis

Primary haemostasis: occurs in minor skin wounds. It’s subdivided into:

1. Vascular spasm (vasoconstriction).

2. A temporary haemostatic plug of platelets.

Vascular spasm: Local vasoconstriction is an immediate but temporary closure

of a blood vessel resulting from contraction of smooth muscle within the wall of
the blood vessel, which reduces the flow of blood from the vessel rupture. Local
vasoconstriction is caused by chemical mediators such as endothelin released from
damaged blood vessels, thromboxane A2 is the most potent vasoconstrictor
released by the platelets at the site of injury, and serotonin from aggregating
platelets. Vascular spasm (constriction) is a transient process, usually lasting less
than a minute. However this amount of time is sufficient for plug formation by
platelet to start.

Platelets plug formation: a platelet plug: is an accumulation of platelets that can

seal up small breaks in blood vessel. Platelets plug formation is very important in
maintaining the integrity of the circulatory system because tears occur in the
smaller vessels & capillaries many times each day, and platelet plug formation
quickly closes them. People who lack the normal number of platelets tend to
develop numerous small hemorrhages in their skin & internal organs. The steps of
the primary haemostatic plug formation are:

Step I: platelet adhesion occurs when platelets bind to exposed collagen fibers of
endothelial damaged blood vessel. This adhesion requires certain essential
coagulation factor such as Von willebrand factor which is secreted by blood vessel
endothelial cells. This factor is a part of complex clotting factor VIII (8).

Step II: activation of platelets by collagen cause release of ADP, thromboxane A2

(derivative of prostaglandins) which are in turn activated additional platelets

Step III:, a plasma protein fibrinogen will bind platelets together resulting in the
formation of a platelet plug which seal the wound and prevent bleeding but this
plug is temporary stops within few 2 – 6 minutes which is called bleeding time.

Step IV: Activated platelets express phospholipids & coagulation factor V (labile
factor), which are important part of clot formation.
The clot (fibrin) plugs the hole in the blood vessel until the endothelial
repaired. This stable plug is temporary. The clot (fibrin) is gradually degraded
by a series of enzymes also present in the blood. In minor skin wounds
bleeding stops within a few minutes

References

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Phsiology.Nicholas sperelakis ,Robert
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