What is "megakaryocyte"

megakaryocyte \meg`a*kar"y*o*cyte\ (m[e^]g`[.a]*k[a^]r"[i^]*[-o]*s[imac]t) n. (Anat.) A large bone marrow cell not usually found in the circulating blood; it is regarded as the precursors of blood platelets; it is up to 100 [mu]m in diameter, with a polyploid nucleus. Also referred to as megacaryocyte, megalokaryocyte, and thromboblast.

n. (context anatomy English) A large cell, found in bone marrow, responsible for the production of platelets.

n. a large bone marrow cell; regarded as the source of blood platelets

A megakaryocyte (mega- + karyo- + -cyte, "large-nucleus cell") is a large bone marrow cell with a lobulated nucleus responsible for the production of blood thrombocytes ( platelets), which are necessary for normal blood clotting. Megakaryocytes normally account for 1 out of 10,000 bone marrow cells but can increase in number nearly 10-fold during the course of certain diseases. Owing to variations in combining forms and spelling, synonyms include megalokaryocyte and megacaryocyte.