THROMBOCYTES:

PLATELETS
By
Dr.M. Anthony David, MD.

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 THROMBOCYTES: INTRO
 Normally 1.5 - 4.0 Lakhs/Cu.mm
in blood.
 Are 2 – 4 µ in diameter; smallest

blood cells.
 Developed from giant cells

called Megakaryocytes.

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 THROMBOCYTES:
STRUCTURE
 Spherical, oval, or rod-shaped colorless
bodies.
 Diameter is between 2 to 4 μ.
 When unstimulated, under Electron
Microscopy they appear as:
 Flattened discs
 Having a cell membrane
 And a Cytoplasmic matrix.
 Microtubules encircle the thrombocyte just below
it’s surface membrane.
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 THROMBOCYTES:
STRUCTURE
 Do not have nuclei.
 Cannot reproduce.
 But behave functionally as whole cells.
 Cytoplasm includes active proteins
such as:
Actin.
Myosin.

Thrombesthenin.

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 THROMBOCYTES:
STRUCTURE
 Cell Organelles in thrombocytes
include:
 Lysosomal granules.
 Dense bodies: about 50 – 100 in number.
 Mitochondria & Enzyme systems which
produce:
 ATP
 ADP

 Enzyme systems producing:

 Prostaglandins – Local hormones.
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 THROMBOCYTES:
Structures within
 Fine Glycogen granules.
 Microvesicles.
 Microtubules.
 Filaments.
 Granules:
 Dense: Serotonin, ADP etc.
 ά-granules: Clotting factors such as:

 Fibrin Stabilizing Factor (FSF) Factor

XIII
 PDGF: Platelet Derived Growth Factor
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 THROMBOCYTES:
STRUCTURE
 Internal Membranous systems:
 Open Canalicular System:
 Spongelike invaginations
 Provide multiple channels for:

 Taking up Calcium ions

 Secreting granule contents.
 Dense Tubular System:
 Channels of S.E.R.
 Serves as an intracellular store for Calcium

ions.
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IDENTIFY THROMBOCYTES!

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 Platelet Physiology
 Have a half life of  About half of them
8 – 12 days. are removed by the
 Eliminated from Macrophages in the
circulation by the Spleen.
Tissue Macrophage  Platelet surface
system. membrane has
 Thrombocytes are Phospho lipids,
active structures. Cholesterol &
glycolipids

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 THROMBOCYTES:
FUNCTIONS
 Formation of Platelet plugs in
Hemostasis.
 Activation.
 Adhesion.
 Aggregation/ Accumulation.
 Cohesion or Plug formation
 Supporting Coagulatory mechanisms.
 Phagocytosis.
 Storage & transport of substances.
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 PLATELET PLUG
FORMATION
 It can by itself stop blood loss, if the
rent is small.
 Many such minute ruptures occur
thousands of times every day in
minute blood vessels.
 Platelets manage to plug these very
well, all by themselves.

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 APPLIED ASPECTS
 Thrombocytopenia:
 Decrease in Thrombocyte count.(Normal:
1.5 – 4 Lakhs/cu.mm of blood)
 Critical Thrombocyte Count is
40,000/cu.mm.
 Causes Purpura:
 Multiple subcutaneous purplish blotches.

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IDIOPATHIC THROMBOCYTOPENIC
PURPURA
 Usually cause not known.
 Called as Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura.
 Diagnosis by:
 Easy bruisability & Purpura.
 Critical Platelet count.
 Prolonged Bleeding Time.
 Can be treated by giving multiple transfusions
of:
 Whole blood
 Platelet rich plasma: PRP

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 APPLIED ASPECTS (Contd.)
 With normal thrombocyte count,
purpura may occur in
 Thrombesthenic Purpura, where the
thrombesthenin is defective.
 Thrombocytosis can cause increased
predisposition for Thrombotic events.

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PURPURA

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 THROMBOCYTES: A REVIEW

 One of the three blood  Have granules

cells or formed secreting:
element.  Serotonin, ADP
 1.5 – 4.0 Lakhs/Cu.mm  FSF & PDGF
 2 – 4 Microns in  Main function: Platelet
diameter. Plug formation:
Activation
No nuclei.


 Adhesion
 Have proteins:  Aggregation
 Actin  Cohesion.
 Myosin
 Applied Aspects: ITP
 Thrombesthenin

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