4.2 Anatomy of the Blood Part 3 Flashcards
Why are platelets not considered true cells?
they are fragments of a large bone marrow predecessor megokaryocyte
How do platelets function?
help stop bleeding by sticking to the edges of the wound and clot the opening
What happens when platelets release chemicals at the site of clotting?
initiate the coagulation cascade
What is the coagulation cascade?
series of events that start the blood clotting mechanism
What are the chemicals that platelets release?
prothrombin activator
What does prothrombin activator do?
converts prothrombin to thrombin
What is fibronogen?
protein that is manufactured by the liver and freely floats in the blood
What is the function of thrombin?
to help convert fibrinogen to fibrin
What is the function of fibrin?
the threads will wind around the platelet plug to provide the framework for a clot
Why does a clot appear red?
red blood cells get trapped in the fibrin threads
What is the platelet plug composed of?
platelets
fibrin threads
What occurs once blood vessel repair is initiated?
plasmin destroys the fibrin network and restores the fluidity of the plasma
