College Answer

The structure of the question outlined exactly what was expected. Platelets are formed in the 
bone marrow from budding of megakaryocytes. Granulocyte colony stimulating factor and 
thrombopoeiten play a role in the process and they have a life span of about 10 days. It was 
expected candidates could describe or draw the structure detailing they have no nucleus, the 
presence of mitochondria and granules and provide some detail of the important external 
surface proteins (glycoproteins, ABO, human platelet antigens). Better answers also described 
the internal microtubule structure and related this to function (allows contraction and shape change). The description of function required detail around the importance of platelet plug 
formation and the role of adhesion, aggregation and activation in this process.