The Cardiovascular System

Platelets and Hemostasis

Platelets
Cytoplasmic fragments of megakaryocytes
Flattened discs; appear spindle-shaped in
blood smear
4m average diameter, 1m thick
No nucleus
Lifespan of 9 12 days then phagocytised
in spleen

White Blood Cell and Platelet

Production
http://www.d.umn.edu/~jfitzake/Lectures/DMED/CytAnt/Cytokines/HematopoiesisPathways.gif

Megakaryocytes. (A) & (B) immature cells. (C) mature cell producing platelets.
(Source: Battinelli et al. 2001).

Platelets
http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/internet/hematology/images/Platelets-100x-website-arrow.jpg

Platelet Functions
Release chemicals important to the
clotting process
Formation of a temporary patch in the
walls of damaged blood vessels
Contraction after clot formation

HEMOSTASIS

Hemostasis
The process of blood halting
The arrest of bleeding from a broken blood
vessel and
The establishment of a framework for
tissue repair

Phases of Hemostasis
Vascular
Platelet
Coagulation

Hemostasis
The Vascular Phase
Vessel wall is cut
Contraction of smooth
muscle in vessel wall
Vascular Spasm

Hemostasis
The Vascular Phase (contd)
Endothelial cells of vessel:
Contract and expose basal lamina to blood
Release chemicals and hormones (Adenosine
Diphosphate <ADP>, tissue factor,
prostacyclin & endothelins)
Plasma membranes become sticky
Endothelial cell membranes on opposing
sides of the blood vessel stick together

Platelet Phase
Platelet Adhesion platelets stick to
endothelium, basal lamina and collagen
fibres
Platelet Aggregation platelets
accumulate at injury site and stick to each
other = Platelet Plug

Platelet Phase
Platelet Activation
Platelets become spherical and develop
cytoplasmic processes
Platelets produce various chemicals

ADP platelet aggregation and secretion

Thromboxane A2 & Serotonin vascular spasms
Clotting factors blood clotting
Platelet-derived growth factors promotes vessel
repair
Calcium ions platelet aggregation and steps in
clotting process

Platelet Phase

The Coagulation Phase

Blood clotting
Conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin
Fibrin covers platelet plug trapping blood
cells > Blood clot
Involves a variety of clotting factors in a
chain reaction of events
Extrinsic Pathway
Intrinsic Pathway
Common Pathway

The Coagulation Phase

(contd)
The Extrinsic Pathway
Begins in the blood vessel
wall
Damaged endothelial cells
or peripheral tissues
release Tissue Factor
(Factor III)
TF combines with Ca2+ and
Factor VII to activate
Factor X in the Common
Pathway
Short and fast

The Intrinsic Pathway

Factor XII in blood
becomes activated on
exposure to collagen fibres
Platelets release a variety
of factors (PF-3 etc)
Ca2+ aids activation of CF
IX
Activated CF IX combines
with CF VIII which activates
Factor X

Coagulation Phase
The Common Pathway
Factor X is activated and forms the
enzyme Prothrombinase
Prothrombinase converts Prothrombin to
Thrombin
Thrombin converts Fibrinogen to Fibrin

Coagulation Phase
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