• Question: how do platelets form ?

    Asked by bossno1 to Alexis, Dr D, Helen, Jasmine, Mario on 24 Jun 2013.
    • Photo: Andrew Devitt

      Andrew Devitt answered on 24 Jun 2013:

      This is cool. They are formed from bigger cells (called megakaryocytes) and they bud off from the cell surface. This is why some people would call platelets ‘cell fragments’. They don’t have all the bits that a ‘normal’ cell would. No nucleus!

    • Photo: Alexis Barr

      Alexis Barr answered on 24 Jun 2013:

      Excellent question. Since Andrew has already answered this question so I’ll maybe tell you something interesting about how platelets form a clot. When blood vessels are damaged, various sticky molecules are released from the blood vessel wall. This makes the platelets start to clump together. By clumping together, the platelets stop bleeding for long enough until the blood vessel is repaired.

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