Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Structure and Function of Platelets

Structure and Function of Platelets

The cell fragments known as platelets are disc-shaped, with an average diameter of about 3 μm and a thickness of roughly 1 μm. They play a crucial role in the body's vascular clotting system, which also involves plasma proteins, blood cells, and blood vessel tissues.
Platelets are continually replenished, circulating in the bloodstream for 9-12 days before being removed by phagocytes, primarily in the spleen. A microliter of circulating blood contains between 150,000 and 450,000 platelets, with...

Formation of the Platelet Plug

Formation of the Platelet Plug

The platelet phase, the second stage of hemostasis, commences around 15-20 seconds after an injury. It follows and overlaps with the vascular phase, during which blood vessels constrict to minimize blood loss.
As the injured blood vessel contracts, endothelial cells undergo contraction, revealing collagen fibers in the basement membrane and underlying connective tissue. Furthermore, the plasma membrane of endothelial cells becomes adhesive, preparing the site for platelet adhesion. Platelets...

Clot Retraction and Fibrinolysis

Clot Retraction and Fibrinolysis

After a fibrin clot is formed, the next step is clot retraction, a vital process facilitated by platelet contractile proteins, such as actin and myosin. These proteins pull the fibrin strands closer together and condense the clot. This action reduces the size of the clot, creating a smaller, denser structure that effectively seals off the damaged vessel. Clot retraction consolidates the clot and helps with wound healing by bringing the edges of the damaged blood vessel closer together.

Disorders of Hemostasis

Disorders of Hemostasis

Hemostasis, the process that stops bleeding after a blood vessel injury, is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the circulatory system. However, disorders of hemostasis can disrupt this delicate balance, leading to either excessive clotting or bleeding. These disorders can be broadly classified into thromboembolic disorders and bleeding disorders.
Thromboembolic Disorders
Two factors primarily cause thromboembolic conditions.

Introduction to Hemostasis

Introduction to Hemostasis

Hemostasis is a complex physiological process that prevents excessive bleeding when a blood vessel is injured. It's crucial for maintaining the integrity of the circulatory system, as it ensures that our blood remains fluid while still within the vascular network and yet clots to prevent blood loss upon vessel injury.
The three phases of hemostasis involve many clotting factors present in plasma and several substances released by platelets and injured tissue cells. It is a fast, localized, and...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Plasma proteomics improves thrombosis prediction in patients with cancer and identifies targetable IL-17-driven endothelial activation.

Science translational medicine·2026

Same author

RNAs anchoring replication complex control initiation and firing of DNA replication.

Nature communications·2026

Same author

Platelet Drp1 phosphorylation provides a platform for immune-based platelet function testing.

Blood·2026

Same author

Oxidized PDI promotes thrombus formation in oxidative stress.

Blood·2026

Same author

In vivo targeting of open prothrombin with the monoclonal antibody POmAb results in anticoagulation without excessive bleeding.

Journal of thrombosis and haemostasis : JTH·2026

Same author

Molecular determinants of allosteric modulation of protein disulfide isomerase by small-molecule b'-ligands.

Redox biology·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 6, 2026

Megakaryocyte Differentiation and Platelet Formation from Human Cord Blood-derived CD34+ Cells

Megakaryocyte Differentiation and Platelet Formation from Human Cord Blood-derived CD34⁺ Cells

Published on: December 27, 2017

Filling a void in Gray Platelets

Robert Flaumenhaft¹

¹Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School, USA.

|December 4, 2010

Summary

No abstract available in PubMed .

More Related Videos

Live-cell Imaging of Platelet Degranulation and Secretion Under Flow

Live-cell Imaging of Platelet Degranulation and Secretion Under Flow

Published on: July 10, 2017

Analyzing Platelet Subpopulations by Multi-color Flow Cytometry

Analyzing Platelet Subpopulations by Multi-color Flow Cytometry

Published on: June 10, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 6, 2026

Megakaryocyte Differentiation and Platelet Formation from Human Cord Blood-derived CD34+ Cells

Megakaryocyte Differentiation and Platelet Formation from Human Cord Blood-derived CD34⁺ Cells

Published on: December 27, 2017

Live-cell Imaging of Platelet Degranulation and Secretion Under Flow

Live-cell Imaging of Platelet Degranulation and Secretion Under Flow

Published on: July 10, 2017

Analyzing Platelet Subpopulations by Multi-color Flow Cytometry

Analyzing Platelet Subpopulations by Multi-color Flow Cytometry

Published on: June 10, 2025