Another term for platelet, the small cell fragments responsible for blood clotting and hemostasis. These cells aggregate at injury sites to form plugs that stop bleeding.
From Greek 'thrombos' meaning clot and 'kytos' meaning cell, coined in the early 1900s. The term emphasizes these cells' primary function in clot formation, though 'platelet' (meaning small plate) is more commonly used today.
Thrombocytes aren't actually complete cells - they're fragments of giant bone marrow cells called megakaryocytes! One megakaryocyte can produce thousands of these tiny clotting helpers, which live only 8-10 days but are constantly being replenished.
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