Platelets have four primary functions:
- Maintain vascular integrity-- Platelets contain chemicals within their granules that are vital to the normal growth and maintenance of the vascular system.
- Form a platelet plug-- Platelets are the fundamental components of the physical barrier that initially fills the breach in the compromised vessel.
- Provide the surface for creation of fibrin-- Fibrin strands, created during secondary hemostsis will weave in amongst the bound platelets that make up the platelet plug, solidifying the structure and creating a fibrin clot
- Stimulate healing of the damaged tissues-- Platelet growth factors actually stimulate the production of new cells to replace those that were damaged, particularly smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts.
