Endothelium and platelets

Question 1

Endothelium

Answer 1

• Maintain normal blood flow.
• Adhere to underlying connective tissue matrix.
• Interact with circulating cells, platelets, and plasma proteins.
• Regulate circulating inflammatory components.
• Damage to these initiates platelet adherence/causes clots.

Question 2

Platelets

Answer 2

• Activated by tissue destruction and inflammation.
• Activation leads to interaction with coagulation cascade to stop bleeding.