What is platelets?!


Question:

What is platelets?


Answers:

Platelets are cells in the blood that activate the clotting response. (Strictly speaking they are not actually cells, but rather pieces of a large cell that breaks apart and forms them.) They are triggered to clot by the release of tissue factors in damaged tissue. They form a "net" around the clot and release chemicals that causes fibrin to form around it.

As you've posted your question in Cancer you're probably wondering why yours might be low? They tend to go down when the disease progresses or during chemotherapy treatments. They are often a good indicator of how a patient is doing...the lower they get, the worse.

I hope this helps.




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