Megakaryocyte | |
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![]() Two megakaryocytes in bone marrow, marked with arrows. | |
Details | |
Location | Bone marrow |
Function | Platelet production |
Identifiers | |
Latin | megakaryocytus |
MeSH | D008533 |
TH | H2.00.04.3.05003 |
FMA | 83555 |
Anatomical terms of microanatomy |
A megakaryocyte (from mega- 'large' karyo- 'cell nucleus' and -cyte 'cell') is a large bone marrow cell with a lobated nucleus that produces blood platelets (thrombocytes), which are necessary for normal clotting. In humans, megakaryocytes usually account for 1 out of 10,000 bone marrow cells, but can increase in number nearly 10-fold during the course of certain diseases.[1] Owing to variations in combining forms and spelling, synonyms include megalokaryocyte and megacaryocyte.