A schematic illustration of the platelet and its main functional receptors. Platelets adhere to collagen in the damaged vessel wall through adhesion receptors. The adhesion receptors can contribute to platelet activation and thereby stimulate the release of autocrine activators such as ADP and TxA2. Upon activation the platelets are capable of forming platelet aggregates by linking to fibrinogen molecules with the GPIIb/IIIa receptor. Thrombin, produced by activation of the coagulation cascades can also activate PAR1 and PAR4 by proteolysis of the receptor. Find out more at platelets.se

Platelets adhere to artificial surface through interaction with surface adsorbed adhesion molecules like fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor, vitronectin and fibronectin. Find out more at platelets.se