What is the primary role of blood platelets (thrombocytes) in human physiology?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. Hemostasis and blood clot formation
- Step 1: Platelets are small, disc-shaped cell fragments derived from the fragmentation of giant megakaryocytes in the bone marrow.
- Step 2: When a blood vessel is damaged, platelets adhere to exposed collagen, release clotting factors, aggregate to form a temporary platelet plug, and initiate the coagulation cascade converting fibrinogen to fibrin.
Answer
Hemostasis and blood clot formation
Why not the others: 'Transport of oxygen from lungs to tissues' Oxygen transport is carried out by hemoglobin inside red blood cells (erythrocytes); 'Phagocytosis of bacterial pathogens' Phagocytosis of pathogens is performed by white blood cells like neutrophils and macrophages; 'Production of circulating antibodies' Circulating antibodies are produced and secreted by plasma B lymphocytes.
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