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Platelets are cell fragments which are an important part of blood clotting. Similarly to red blood cells, they don't have a nucleus, but they are a lot smaller than red blood cells. When there are too few platelets, wounds don't close as well and you bleed more. Conversely, when there are too many, your blood clots too easily and blood clots might form without there being a wound - leading to thrombosis. However, the range of platelet counts that are healthy is very large, unlike for other blood cells. If you're on the lower end, somebody with five times as many platelets as you might still be perfectly healthy.

How they work: When a blood vessel is injured, blood comes into contact with the protein mesh underneath the vessel wall. This mesh contains collagen. Blood contains platelets, but also a protein called Von Willebrand Factor (VWF), which sticks to collagen. Once it is stuck down, VWF itself becomes sticky for platelets which are also in the blood. This way, VWF becomes like glue stripts for platelets to stick onto an injury. This causes platelets to activate and stick to each other, forming a plug over the injury. There are more details to what platelets do, but this is their main function.

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What is the pricipal purpose of blood platelets?

Blood platelets help blood clot.


What cellular component in the blood is crucial in blood clotting?

platelets.


Are platelets part of liquid part of your blood?

No, platelets are one of the solid components of blood.


What element helps in blood clotting?

Platelets or thrombocytes are a component of blood tissues involved in the formation of blood clots. Platelets are not cells, but are cell fragments.


Which is more dense plasma or platelets?

Blood cells, plasma, and platelets all carry blood, platelets help blood clot and move red & white blood cells around, Plasma is the liquid part of the blood that holds blood cells and gets moved around by platelets, and blood cells move around in your blood fighting infections & protecting your wounds by forming scabs.


Which of the blood cells make the blood clot?

It's not a blood cell. It is platelets. They clot due to blood loss from damaged blood vessels


What is blood clotting made possible by?

Platelets or blood clotting proteins cause blood to clot.


What kind of cells are cell fragments found in the blood that are involved in blood clotting?

Platelets, also known as thrombocytes, are cell fragments found in the blood that play a crucial role in blood clotting. When there is damage to a blood vessel, platelets adhere to the site and release chemicals to help form a clot and stop bleeding.


What is the composition of blood?

Blood Composition * Plasma * RBCs * White Blood Cells * Blood Platelets


What is the tiny cell fragments in blood?

White blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets.


What blood components is most abundant in humans?

platelets platelets


What if platelets weren't in the blood?

Without platelets your blood vessels would not heal if they were torn and you would lose blood and die.