AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Platelets, or thrombocytes, are small, colorless cell fragments in our blood that form clots and stop or prevent bleeding.

Detailed explanation-2: -Platelets immediately stick to the edges of the cut and release chemicals that attract more platelets. Eventually, a platelet plug is formed, and the outside bleeding stops.

Detailed explanation-3: -Platelets help prevent bleeding Their primary function is to prevent and stop bleeding. If a blood vessel is damaged, the body sends signals to platelets which cause them to travel to the injured area. Once the platelets arrive at the site, they clump together to form a clot that helps stop bleeding.

Detailed explanation-4: -Unlike red and white blood cells, platelets are not actually cells but rather small fragments of cells. Platelets help the blood clotting process (or coagulation) by gathering at the site of an injury, sticking to the lining of the injured blood vessel, and forming a platform on which blood coagulation can occur.

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.