MEGAKARYOPOIESIS

Megakaryopoiesis is a process wherein there will be megakaryocyte maturation and eventually the production of
platelets. It is a part of hemopoiesis.

Megakaryocyte

 Primary cell involved in megakaryopoiesis and the bone marrow cell responsible for the production of platelets.

 Largest cell in the body the accounts for 1% of total nucleated cells in the bone marrow.

 Considered as polyploid cell -possess multiple chromosomes

 Characteristics:

a. The only cell line where cell become smaller in size as they mature, because it has to prepare itself for platelet
shedding phase (a process wherein meg. fragments to produce platelets).

b. Do not go mitosis. It undergo ENDOMITOSIS

c. Do not increase in number as they mature

d. Can be harvested in the lungs and BM

e. On blood films (Wright stained smear), 2-4 megakaryocyte per LPF

f. A single megakaryocyte may shed 2000-4000 platelets where 1/3 of it is being sequestered by the spleen.