PLATELETS

Thromboplastids
Minute, colorless, anucleate corpuscles Flat biconcave discs 2-3 micron in diameter, round or oval on the flat Fusiform on the edge 150,000 350,000 per cubic mm Life span of 8-11 days

 In stained smears
Hyalomere thin pale blue peripheral zone - contain finely filamentous microtubules Chromomere granulomere thick central zone - alpha granule contain serotonin

 Platelets contain contractile material with properties similar to those of actinomyosin in muscle Activation during blood clotting initiates polymerization of actin and myosin monomers into filamentous form necessary for contraction

Function
Principal Hemostasis
To patch small defects in the endothelial lining of blood vessels Limit hemorrhage by promoting local coagulation

Hemostasis

 Platelet adhesion sticking of platelets to solid surfaces

Adherence encounter surfaces they are not normally exposed to glass, plastic or other solids

Platelet aggregation sticking of platelets to each other

In the circulation no tendency to adhere to each other, to other cells or to the lining of blood vessels

At sites of vascular injury they adhere to damaged endothelium and to exposed collagen forming a layer of platelets over the denuded area

 The adhering platelets are activated by this contact to break down their ATP and release ADP onto their surface and into surrounding medium ADP is a potent inducer of platelet aggregation and other platelets stick to those initially deposited These in turn are activated and induce further aggregation The mass of platelets on the vessel wall thus continues to enlarge producing a platelet thrombus and finally hemostatic plug

Other complex reaction

Coagulation

 Tissue thromboplastin
Released from the injured tissue of the vessel wall initiates a series of reactions in the blood plasma that convert prothrombin to thrombin Thrombin catalyzes the conversion of plasma fibrinogen to fibrin Fibrin - polymerizes as a feltwork of cross striated fibrils that enmesh erythrocytes and platelets to form a gelatinous clot

- In the process of aggregation and activation, the platelets undergo dramatic morphological changes - They extend their numerous slender processes, release the content of their granules and ultimately coalesce into coherent viscous mass - Degranulation releases phospholipids which reacts with other plasma components to produce platelet thromboplastin - Platelet thromboplastin acts to promote progression of the clotting process initiated by tissue thromboplastin

 Within an hour or so after its formation, the blood clot shrinks to about half its normal volume Shrinkage - Attributed to polymerization of actin and myosin filaments during the viscous metamorphosis of the platelets triggered by thrombin and their interaction to produce contraction of the clot. The hemostasis achieved by occluding the lumen is supplemented by active constriction of the injured vessel

Hemostasis: other factors

This is in part a direct consequence of mechanical stimulation of the vessel wall at the time of injury, evidence that diffusible substances released from the platelet mass also play a role. The serotonin of the platelets may be involved and proteolytic enzymes activated in the clotting process may result in production of bradykinin and other vasoactive peptides

Other blood components

Plasma proteins
Albumin Globulin Clotting factors: fibrinogen

Albumin
Most abundant and smallest of the plasma proteins Synthesized by the liver Principal function
Maintain the colloid osmotic pressure within the blood capillaries which prevents excessive loss of fluid to the tissues Transport of metabolic products, drugs

globulins
Divided into several fractions Gamma globulins
Immune gammaglobulins(antibodies)
Basis of immulogical defenses of the body against bacteria, toxins and foreign proteins Synthesized in the lymphoid organs

 Beta globulins
Function in the transport of hormones, metal ions and lipid - Ceruloplasmin transports copper Transferrin combines with iron, copper and zinc
Main function is to transport iron

 Serum lipoproteins
Involved in lipid transport
Chylomicrons
Largest Carry lipids from the intestine to the liver

Very low density lipoproteins

Carrier of lipid from the liver to adipose tissue

Low density lipoproteins

Plasma clotting factors

major defense against serious blood loss Clotting Factors: Factor VIII, Factor VII, etc Fibrinogen
Synthesized in the liver