Edited by
MARTIN QUINN

2005

Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Platelets are small anucleate blood-borne particles that play a central role in blood clot formation. In areas of endothelial damage or activation of the coagulation cascade, they change shape, release their granule contents, and activate. This process transforms the smooth discoid platelet into a sticky spiculated particle with the ability to bind to the plasma protein fibrinogen, forming a clot.