**Main Concepts**

**Chapter 1** 

© 2012Cüce and Aktan, licensee InTech. This is an open access chapter distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

© 2012 Cüce and Aktan, licensee InTech. This is a paper distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

© 2012 The Author(s). Licensee InTech. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution,

**Platelets** 

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/50969

**2.1. Development of Platelets** 

are mentioned as,

models to explain formation of platelets.

**1. Introduction** 

were summarized.

**2. Platelets** 

Gökhan Cüce and Tahsin Murad Aktan

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

General information about platelets, origin of plateletes and granule contents of platelets

These cell fragments are morphologically small scale but functionally vital under life threatening conditions (1). They originate from megakaryocytes located mainly in the bone marrow, found in circulating blood and stored in spleen (2). Platelets don't contain a nuclei and during their inactive state they have a discoid morphology with a diameter of 2-4 micrometer (3, 4). But whenever they are active they can change their morphology very rapidly to an irregular branched spread form (5). Currently platelets are being used at wide

It is not exactly explained how platelets originate from megakaryocytes. There are several

Megakaryocytes seem to locate as triple form. With their VEGF secretion capacity they hold vessel endothelial cells close to themselves (8). The most scientifically accepted three models

2. In megakaryocytes there are special cell fields defined as "Demarcation Membrane System" where granules of platelets condense and fragments break away (9). 3. The most popular theory seems to be "Proplatelet Formation". Here megakaryocytes have long thin branch like extensions at the blood circulating site of blood vessels of

and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

spread clinic treatments from cosmetic needs to supporting insufficient heart (6, 7).

1. Simply blebbing from the cell membrane of megakaryocytes (1).
