ANATOMY

Detailed explanation-1: -Thrombocytes, or platelets, are not complete cells, but are small fragments of very large cells called megakaryocytes. Megakaryocytes develop from hemocytoblasts in the red bone marrow. Thrombocytes become sticky and clump together to form platelet plugs that close breaks and tears in blood vessels.

Detailed explanation-2: -The cellular elements-referred to as the formed elements-include erythrocytes (aka red blood cells or RBCs), leukocytes (aka white blood cells or WBCs), and cell fragments called platelets (aka thrombocytes).

Detailed explanation-3: -The formed elements are so named because they are enclosed in a plasma membrane and have a definite structure and shape. All formed elements are cells except for the platelets, which are tiny fragments of bone marrow cells.

Detailed explanation-4: -Platelets are irregularly shaped fragments of cells that circulate in the blood until they are either activated to form a blood clot or are removed by the spleen. Thrombocytopenia is a condition of low levels of platelets and carries an increased risk of bleeding.

Detailed explanation-5: -Platelets are produced from very large bone marrow cells called megakaryocytes. As megakaryocytes develop into giant cells, they undergo a process of fragmentation that results in the release of over 1, 000 platelets per megakaryocyte.