Platelets. Coloured transmission electron micrograph (TEM) of a section through activated platelets, or thrombocytes. Platelets are small, non-nucleat

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Platelets. Coloured transmission electron micrograph (TEM) of a section through activated platelets, or thrombocytes. Platelets are small, non-nucleated cells that circulate in the blood after forming in the bone marrow. Unactivated platelets are oval in shape and 2-3 micrometres in diameter. However these are activated platelets, as can be seen from their spiky dendritic processes or pseudopodia. Platelets help to plug defects in the walls of small blood vessels, and they are involved in clotting and the release of serotonin. Serotonin constricts damaged blood vessels, restricting blood flow and thus blood loss. Magnification: x300 at 35mm size.

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Size: 3645px × 2480px
Photo credit: © DR GOPAL MURTI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: activated, anatomy, blood, body, cell, human, platelet, platelets, thrombocyte