Thrombopoiesis

Thrombopoiesis, the process by which platelets are made, begins when a unipotent stem cell in the red bone marrow becomes differentiated into a megakaryocyte by means of a specific stimulant. Megakaryocytes are large multinucle­ated cells that remain within the bone marrow. Platelets made of fragments of megakaryocyte cytoplasm are released into peripheral blood. Platelets are also known as thrombocytes. Thrombopoiesis can take up to seven days to complete.

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