Changes

==Structure==

==Structure==

[[Image:LH_Thrombocyte_TEM.jpg|thumb|150px|<p>'''Thrombocyte TEM'''</p>^{©Nottingham Uni 2008}]]

[[Image:LH_Thrombocyte_TEM.jpg|thumb|150px|<p>'''Transmission electron microscopy view of a Thrombocyte '''</p>^{©Nottingham Uni 2008}]]

The thrombocyte is structurally divided into four zones:

The thrombocyte is structurally divided into four zones:

* ''Peripheral zone'' is the outer membrane with a coat of glycocalyx

* ''Peripheral zone'' is the outer membrane with a coat of glycocalyx

* ''Structural zone'' contains microtubules and actin and myosin filaments

* ''Structural zone'' contains microtubules and actin and myosin filaments

* ''Organelle zone'' contains organelles such as mitochondria along with three different granule types

* ''Organelle zone'' contains organelles such as mitochondria along with three different granule types

* ''Membrane zone'' is made of two types of membrane. One, the open canicular system, is membrane not used when the platelet budded off the megakaryocyte. The other, the dense tubular system, is membrane from the rough endoplasmic reticulum and is involved in calcium ion storage and regulation.

* ''Membrane zone'' is made of of two types of membrane. One, the open canicular system, is membrane not used when the platelet budded off the megakaryocyte. The other, the dense tubular system, is membrane from the rough endoplasmic reticulum and is involved in calcium ion storage and regulation.

<p>See reptile [[Thrombocytes - Reptile|thrombocytes]]</P>

<p>Reptilian thrombocytes are ellipsoidal to fusiform shaped with an elliptical, centrally positioned nucleus. They are similar in function to mammalian platelets and are involved in thrombus formation, blood clotting and wound healing.

[[Image:Thrombocyte.jpg|150px|thumb|right|'''Reptilian Thrombocytes''' (Copyright © RVC. All rights reserved)]]

 

==Granules==

==Granules==

*α granules are the most common and contain coagulation factors, fibrinogen, plasminogen, plasminogen activator factor and platelet derived growth factor (PDGF)

*α granules are the most common and contain coagulation factors, fibrinogen, plasminogen, plasminogen activator factor and platelet derived growth factor (PDGF)

==Actions==

==Actions==

<p>Thrombocytes play a number of roles in [[Haemostasis|haemostasis]]. They adhere to exposed connective tissue in the walls of blood vessels forming platelet plugs, while releasing a number of factors from their granules. The glycocalyx on their surface provides a surface for fibrinogen to convert to fibrin leading to the formation of the secondary haemostatic plug. The platelets then contract (see structural zone) reducing the clot size. Finally lytic enzymes are released to break the clot down.</p><p>If platelet numbers fall below 50x10⁹/l an animal is likely to haemorrhage after trauma and if the count falls below 30x10⁹/l then spontaneous haemorrhage is a risk.</p><p>PDGF from the granules stimulates tissue repair in blood vessels by stimulating smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts.</p>

<p>Thrombocytes play a number of roles in [[Normal_Mechanisms_of_Haemostatic_Control#Platelet_Responses|haemostasis]]. They adhere to exposed connective tissue in the walls of blood vessels forming platelet plugs, while releasing a number of factors from their granules. The glycocalyx on their surface provides a surface for fibrinogen to convert to fibrin leading to the formation of the secondary haemostatic plug. The platelets then contract (see structural zone) reducing the clot size. Finally lytic enzymes are released to break the clot down.</p><p>If platelet numbers fall below 50x10⁹/l an animal is likely to haemorrhage after trauma and if the count falls below 30x10⁹/l then spontaneous haemorrhage is a risk.</p><p>PDGF from the granules stimulates tissue repair in blood vessels by stimulating smooth muscle cell growth and division and by stimulating fibroblast activity.</p>

[[Category:Blood_Cells]]

[[Category:Blood_Cells]] [[Category:Kate English reviewing]]