What Is Mean Platelet Volume?
In medicine, mean platelet volume (MPV) is a measurement that describes the average size of platelet cells in the blood. It is a measurement that is usually included in the results of a typical comprehensive blood test. The importance of mean platelet volume lies in the fact that this measurement provides an indicator as to whether the bone marrow is manufacturing platelets normally. Platelets are a type of red blood cell, which plays a vital role in helping to form blood clots. Platelet aggregation works to stop bleeding when tissues, veins, or arteries are cut, or suffer other kinds of physical damage. The most basic measure of platelet health is usually considered to be the platelet count. When a person has a severe problem with platelet production, a low platelet count will normally be detected in a basic blood test.
