What it means
Platelets are made in the bone marrowbone MAIR-ohThe soft, spongy tissue inside bones that makes blood cells.Full entry . When a blood vessel is hurt, they clump together to plug the leak and start clotting. A low count is thrombocytopeniathrom-boh-sy-toh-PEE-nee-uhA blood platelet count below normal, under 150,000/mm3.thromb/o clotcyt/o cell-penia lack, too fewFull entry and raises the risk of bleeding; drugs such as aspirinAS-prinA drug that eases pain, fever and inflammation and makes platelets less sticky so blood clots less easily.Full entry stop platelets from sticking together.
For the nurse
With a low count, look for bruising, tiny red spots on the skin (petechiae), bleeding gums and blood in urine or stool. Use a soft toothbrush and an electric razor, avoid IM injections when possible and hold pressure longer after needle sticks.
In a chart
"Platelets 42,000; bleeding precautions in place."
At a glance
| Normal range | 150,000–400,000/mm3 [150–400 × 10^9/L] |
|---|---|
| Abbreviations | PLT |
| Spanish | plaqueta |
| Also written | platelets, thrombocyte, thrombocytes, platelet count |
Related terms
anticoagulant
A drug that slows the blood's ability to form clots.
thrombocytopenia
A blood platelet count below normal, under 150,000/mm3.
bone marrow
The soft, spongy tissue inside bones that makes blood cells.
thromb/o
A word part that means blood clot.