Hello, little scientists, I am Professor Bill Tyson and together we are going to know different forms of science. Yeah, I've got a leak in the kitchen, and I need to fix it. But let's get down to business today.
In the previous episodes I said that there are three types of very important cells in our blood and today we will talk about the last one. The platelets. Platelets are also called thrombocytes, and in fact they are not cells, but rather small parts of the cytoplasm of much larger cells called megakaryocytes.
And because they are just a cell fragment they have no nucleus. The thrombocytes are discoid, which is like a ball, only flat. And they are much smaller than red blood cells and leukocytes.
But do not be fooled by its size, the platelets are real lifeguards. When we have an injury to the wall of a blood vessel, such as a cut for example. The platelets go to the wound site and to prevent blood from flowing out, they come together to block the passage of blood in a process called Coagulation.
In this process the platelets produce a substance called thromboplastin that binds to other molecules present in the blood will turn into tiny strands of a protein called fibrin. Now with fibrin, platelets form a kind of network in which they can hold even larger cells like red blood cells, thus creating a barrier that prevents blood blood from leaving the blood vessel. Usually when we have a small wound and form a cone, you can be sure, the platelets are in action.
Oh. How I wish they had platelets in the pipes of my kitchens. For now, it's just personal, see you next time.
Just one more thing. If you, like me, believe in the importance of teaching science to children, share this video.
