Hemostasis stops bleeding after a cut in the skin or blood vessel. Platelet plug is the second step, where platelets adhere to the damaged area, release granules, and become sticky to seal off the damage. Blood clotting follows to complete the process.
Hemostasis is an involuntary bodily function intended to stop bleeding. It occurs in the human and animal body when a cut is made in the skin or a blood vessel. After vascular spasms and vasoconstriction reduce blood flow within the damaged vessel, a platelet plug is the second step of hemostasis. Platelets — cell fragments that lack a nucleus but contain their own deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) — traveling in the blood go through three steps to plug any holes or cuts. This plug occurs later and is more complex than vascular spasms and vasoconstriction; blood clotting follows the plug into hemostasis to complete the process.
The first step associated with platelet plug is called platelet adhesion. After the blood vessel is damaged or punctured, platelets detect the damaged cells. Nearby platelets will adhere to any open surfaces, creating a small clot to prevent further damage from occurring. This is the starting point of the platelet plug.
After adhering to the damaged area, platelets undergo a change known as a platelet release reaction. The platelets grow tendrils and contact other nearby platelets, forming a wall. Once all nearby platelets are connected, they unfold and release the packets. Each platelet package contains two types of content: alpha beads and dense beads.
Alpha granules are used to heal the surrounding area. They contain clotting and growth factors to help new blood grow and to seal the damaged area. The second type of granule, dense granules, contain chemicals that call other platelets. This helps to make the platelet clot more effectively.
In the last stage of platelet plugging, platelet aggregation, the platelets become sticky. This causes new platelets called by the dense granules to stick to neighboring platelets. By becoming sticky, the platelets are able to completely seal off any damage in the blood vessel and the platelet plug is complete.
While the platelet plug is helpful in stopping bleeding and blood vessel damage, it doesn’t happen by itself. By itself, the plug wouldn’t be able to completely stop the bleeding, and moving could damage it. Blood clotting occurs next and is the more complex hemostatic activity, turning the blood into a gel and attempting to keep the blood from leaving the body. Unless the wound is severe, this hemostatic activity should be sufficient to close and heal a joint cut without the need for stitches or other medical procedures.
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