Definition

1. Noun:
   • A very small, colorless cell fragment found in the blood of vertebrates. Blood platelets are essential for the process of blood clotting (coagulation), which stops bleeding by forming clots at the site of an injury.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • A low count of blood platelets can lead to excessive bleeding.
  • The doctor explained that blood platelets stick together to seal a wound.
  • The transfusion included blood platelets to help the patient's clotting ability.

Advanced Usage

• "Platelet aggregation": The process by which blood platelets clump together, which is a crucial step in forming a blood clot.
  • Medications can inhibit platelet aggregation to prevent heart attacks.

Variants and Related Words

• Platelet (noun): The common, shortened form of "blood platelet".
  • The lab test measures your platelet count.
• Thrombocyte (noun): A technical synonym for a blood platelet.
• Thrombocytopenia (noun): A medical condition characterized by an abnormally low number of platelets in the blood.

Synonyms

• Platelet: The standard, more common synonym.
• Thrombocyte: A scientific/medical term.

Related Phrases and Concepts

• Platelet count: A standard laboratory test to measure the number of platelets in a blood sample.
  • Her platelet count was normal.
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP): A concentrated source of platelets derived from a patient's own blood, used in certain medical treatments.
  • The athlete received a PRP injection to aid healing.

Noun

1. tiny bits of protoplasm found in vertebrate blood; essential for blood clotting