We just learned about the Red Blood Cell and the White Blood Cell.
The third type of blood cell is the Platelet, also called thrombocytes.
The name thrombocyte comes from the Greek words θρόμβος (thrombos) which means clot, and κύτος (kytos) which means cell.
Platelets get carried around in the veins and arteries, and if they see that there is some damage to the body, like a hole in the vein or artery then they will try and patch up the hole.
A bunch of platelets will work to connect to each other, and when they work to block up a hole like this it is called a clot.
So when you have a cut and are bleeding, the platelets come and make a blood clot and help fix up the cut.
(from: wikipedia - platelet)
Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Macula
