Which description best fits a platelet?

Which description best fits a platelet?

• A. Small, anucleate cytoplasmic fragments derived from megakaryocytes
• B. Large nucleated cell that gives rise to blood cells
• C. A mature red blood cell with a biconcave shape
• D. A lymphocyte involved in antibody production

Answer: (B)

Platelets are small, anucleate cytoplasmic fragments derived from megakaryocytes in the bone marrow. They form by fragmentation of the megakaryocyte cytoplasm, so they are not whole nucleated cells. This makes them distinct from hematopoietic stem cells (large nucleated cells that give rise to blood cells) and from mature red blood cells, which are erythrocytes with a biconcave shape, or from lymphocytes involved in antibody production. So the description that best fits a platelet is that they are small, anucleate cytoplasmic fragments derived from megakaryocytes.

Platelets are small, anucleate cytoplasmic fragments derived from megakaryocytes in the bone marrow. They form by fragmentation of the megakaryocyte cytoplasm, so they are not whole nucleated cells. This makes them distinct from hematopoietic stem cells (large nucleated cells that give rise to blood cells) and from mature red blood cells, which are erythrocytes with a biconcave shape, or from lymphocytes involved in antibody production. So the description that best fits a platelet is that they are small, anucleate cytoplasmic fragments derived from megakaryocytes.