Chapter 4: Platelets Flashcards
What are platelets?
Small, granulated, non-nucleated round or oval bodies of about 2-4 microns in diameter.
Platelets diameter
2-4 microns
What is the normal platelet count in blood?
300,000 mm^3
Platelet life span
8 days
What produces platelets?
They are produced in the bone marrow by giant cells called megakaryocytes.
How are myeloid stem cells formed?
The pluripotent uncommitted stem cells under the effect of interleukins are transformed into myeloid stem cells.
What can the myeloid stem cells develop into?
Myeloid stem cells are cells in the bone marrow that are capable into developing into:
1. Monocytes
2. Macrophages
3. Neutrophils
4. Basophils
5. Eosinophil
6. Erythrocytes
And/or
7. Megakaryocytes under proper stimulation
What is differentiated into megakaryocytes?
The myeloid stem cells under the effect of thrombopoietin (produced by the liver and kidneys) are differentiated into megakaryocytes.
What are functions of thrombopoeitin?
- Helps myeloid stem cells differentiate into megakaryocytes.
- Facilitate megakaryocytes maturation.
What is the percentage of platelets that pass to the blood?
70% of the platelets extruded from the bone marrow pass to the blood.
What is the percentage of platelets stored?
30% of the platelets are stored in the spleen.
What is the effect of splenectomy on the platelet count?
It increases the platelet count (thrombocytosis).
Structure of platelets
Platelets are active cells that have many functional characteristics of whole cells even though they have no nucleus and can’t reproduce.
They consist of a plasma membrane, a cytoplasm, and granules.
Platelets Plamsa membrane
- Coat of Glycoprotein: on the plasma membrane surface to prevent adherence of platelets to normal epithelium but helps adherence to injured epithelium.
- it contains receptors for collagen and vessel wall Von-Willebrand factor. - Phospholipids
- Open canalicular system: serves as a pathway for extracellular calcium uptake and release of Intracellular substances.
Platelets Cytoplasm
Contains many active structures:
1. Contractile actin and myosin: enable the activated platelets to change shape.
2. Microtubules
3. Mitochondria
4. Lysosomes
5. Residuals of endoplasmic reticulum
6. Golgi apparatus
7. Glycogen granules and enzymes
Granules present inside the platelets
Dense and alpha granules
Dense granules of platelets
Contain non protein substances secreted by platelets as:
1. Serotonin
2. ADP
3. Calcium ions
Alpha granules
Contain secreted proteins as clotting factors:
1. Fibrinogen stabilizing factor (XIII)
2. Platelet derived growth factor (PDGF)
3. Platelet activation factor (PAF)
What is Hemostasis?
Prevention of blood loss after injury. Whenever a blood vessel is cut or ruptured, a series of changes occur to stop blood loss.
What are the steps of hemostasis?
- Constriction of blood vessel.
- Formation of temporary Hemostatic plug.
- Conversion of temporary platelet clot to definitive clot by fibrin threads produced by the process of coagulation.
- Clot is dissolved to resume normal blood flow after tissue repair. The dissolution of the clot occurs through the action of plasmin.
constriction of a blood vessel
The constriction of a blood vessel occurs immediately after an injury and may be so marked that the lumen is completely closed.
What are causes of vasoconstriction?
- Local myogenic contraction due to direct trauma.
- Nervous reflexes initiated by pain from the traumatized vessel.
- Local humoral factors from platelets such as serotonin, ADP, and thromboxane A2.
Formation of temporary Hemostatic plug
Injury stimulates the platelets to form a mechanical plug to seal the vascular injury.
1. Cut is small: the platelet plug can stop blood loss.
2. Cut is large: blood clot is needed to be added to stop bleeding.
How do normal platelets circulate in the blood?
Normal platelets circulate freely in the blood and do not adhere to the endothelial surface.
What happens when a vascular surface is injured?
Platelets adhere to the exposed subendotheliel collagen of the injured blood vessel.
What does the platelet adhesion depend on?
- Glycoprotein receptors on the platelets membrane for collagen and Von- willebrand factor.
- Von-willebrand factor (vWF) , which is a glycoprotein present in the subendothelial tissue. it is also present in the plasma bound to factor VIll.
What initiates platelet activation?
The binding of platelets to collagen.
What proves that the platelets are activated?
Platelets swell, change their shape, put out pseudopodia, and discharge the content of the granules.
What is the activation of platelets enhanced by?
By ADP and thrombin.
What are released contents of dense granules functions?
- Calcium: release of more granules.
- ADP: activation, aggregation, and fusion of platelets.
- Serotonin: reinforce and maintain vasoconstriction of the injured blood vessel.
What are the released content of alpha granules functions?
- Coagulation factor XIII: stabilization of fibrin clot.
- Platelet derived growth factor (PDGF): stimulates wound healing and repair by stimulation of growth and multiplication of vascular endothelium smooth muscles and fibroblasts.
- Platelet activation factor (PAF): platelet aggregation.
Is Ca++ an independent or dependent reaction?
Dependent reaction.
what is thromboxane A2 released from?
Activated platelets.
What is thromboxane A2 (TxA2) produced from?
Arachidonic acid in the membrane of the platelets by cyclooxyrgenase enzyme.
What is the function of TxA2?
It increases free Ca++ in the cytoplasm of the platelets which will lead to:
1. Vasoconstriction
2. Induction of release reaction
3. Powerful platelet aggregation
How is prostacyclin produced?
It is produced from arachidonic acid in the wall of blood vessels by the action of cyclooxygenase enzyme.
What are the functions of prostacyclin?
- Powerful vasodilator.
- Inhibits the release and aggregation of platelets.
- Since it’s actions are opposite to TxA2, prostacyclin seems to keep the platelet plug localized to the site of injury.
What causes more platelets to aggregate at the site of injury?
Released ADP and TxA2.
Explain the self-propagating process.
Released ADP and TxA2 cause more platelets to aggregate at the site of injury. This leads to further release reaction which liberates more ADP, and thromboxane A2, causing more aggregation.This self-propagating process results in the formation of the platelet plug.
What forms the platelet plug?
The self-propagating process.
Aggregation is also stimulated by?
Platelet activating factor (PAF).
What is the platelets pro coagulant activity?
Platelets act as catalysts for coagulation. The membrane phospholipids (platelet factor 3) is exposed providing an ideal surface for concentration and activation of coagulation factors.
Why is aspirin used as a preventive measure against myocardial infarction?
Aspirin inhabits cyclooxygenase enzyme, thus reduces the production of both TxA2 and prostacyclin. However, the endothelial cells produce new cyclooxygenase in a matter of hours, whereas platelets cannot manufacture the enzyme. Therefore, administration of small amounts of aspirin for prolonged periods reduces clot formation and has been of value in preventing myocardial infarction.
What is the cause of irreversible fusion of aggregated platelets at the site of injury?
- High concentration of ADP and thrombin.
- Enzymes liberated during the platelet realms reaction.
What is blood coagulation?
Formation of blood clot by intrinsic and extrinsic pathways to stop bleeding.
What are coagulation factors?
Plasma proteins mainly beta globulins that are synthesized by the liver.
How can you recognize coagulation factors?
By capital Roman numerals, the first four are usually referred to by names.
What are coagulation factors?
They are inactive enzymes, which when activated lead to a chain of proteolytic reactions activating other factors.
What are the three groups of coagulation factors?
Fibrinogen group, prothrombin group, and contact group.
Fibrinogen
Factor I(fibrinogen), factor V, factor VIII, factor XIII.
They are activated by thrombin.
Prothrombin group
Factor II (prothrombin), factor VII, factor IX, factor X.
All need vitamin k for synthesis in the liver.
Contact group
Factor XI, Factor XII
Activated by contact to electro-negativity charged surface.
What is Mechanism of Coagulation?
Process by which loose aggregation of platelets in the temporary plug is bound together and converted into a definitive clot by fibrin threads.
What is a blood clot composed of?
Mesh work of fibrin threads run in all directions entrapping blood cells, platelets, and plasma.