**7. Platelet function in haemostasis**

Platelets respond to vascular wall damage by adhesion, aggregation, release of granule content and morphological changes. Von Willebrand Factor is a plasma protein that acts as a bridge between platelets and the exposed collagen of damaged tissue. The platelet binding site is the membrane glycoprotein GPIb-VIX. Von Willebrand Factor also acts as a carrier protein for, and stabiliser of FVIII, preventing premature proteolytic degradation by Protein C.
