composition of blood - platelets

Question 1

What are platelets also called?

Answer 1

thrombocytes

Question 2

Where are platelets made and from what?

Answer 2

They are made in bone marrow from large cells

Question 3

What do the large cells that platelets are made of do?

Answer 3

These large cells break down to produce cell fragments called platelets.

Question 4

Are platelets bigger or smaller than red blood cells?

Answer 4

They are smaller than red blood cells

Question 5

What is the role of platelets?

Answer 5

Their function is to clot blood

Question 6

What does a clot result from?

Answer 6

A clot results when damaged body cells produce chemicals that stimulate platelets to form a clot.

Question 7

What are the 2 main functions of blood clots?

Answer 7

They reduce the loss of blood.

They prevent the entry of micro-organisms

Question 8

When do clots not usually form?

Answer 8

They do not usually form in healthy, undamaged blood vessels

Question 9

When do clots usually form

Answer 9

If the vessel walls are damaged, a blood clot may form and may block the blood vessel. This is called thrombosis.
Examples include clots forming in blood vessels in the brain (causing strokes) or in vessels of the heart (causing heart attack).

Question 10

Give examples of thrombosis

Answer 10

Examples include clots forming in blood vessels in the brain (causing strokes) or in vessels of the heart (causing heart attack).

Question 11

What is thrombosis?

Answer 11

When vessel walls are damaged, a blood clot may form and may block the blood vessel. This is called thrombosis.