2023 · Q24
In some viral infections, number of platelets are reduced quickly. Platelets are essential because:
general-sciencebiology-human-body
- Athey along with red blood cells carry oxygen.
- Bplatelets are important to carry food to cells through blood.
- Cplatelets remove carbon dioxide from blood.
- Dplatelets have a role in blood clotting.
Explanation
Platelets (thrombocytes) are cell fragments that aggregate at sites of vessel injury and release clotting factors, forming the platelet plug that initiates blood coagulation. A rapid fall in platelet count (thrombocytopenia), seen in dengue and some viral infections, creates a bleeding risk. Platelets do not carry oxygen or food to cells, nor do they remove carbon dioxide. Hence they are essential because of their role in blood clotting.