Question

What are megakaryocytes?

Answer 1

 A very large cell native to the bone marrow which is the precursor of platelets and the largest(40–100 µm in diameter) normal nucleated haematopoietic cell in the marrow. Megakaryocytes may be relatively small(micromegakaryocytes) and measure 15–30 µm in diameter. The nucleus usually has multiple (8, 16 or 32) overlappin globes; megakaryocytes with few (2 or 4) lobes may occur in myelodysplasia. Nucleoli are absent, chromatin is coarse,cytoplasm is abundant, stains light blue or pink, and contains numerous purplish-red or pink granules. The N:C ratio is 1:1 to1:2. Megakaryocytes producing platelets may reveal demarcated granular clumps of platelets extruding/streaming from themargins (platelet budding).

Answer 2

The cells of bone marrow those are responsible for production of blood platelets. Blood platelets are required for normal blood clotting. In normal condition about 1 of 10,000 bone marrow cells is a megakaryocyte but increases during diseases and injuries.