What happens during the platelet phase of hemostasis?

During the platelet phase of hemostasis, platelets play a critical role in forming a temporary plug at the site of a blood vessel injury. When a blood vessel is damaged, platelets adhere to the exposed collagen and other substances in the damaged tissue. This initial adhesion is facilitated by specific receptors on the platelet surface. Once the platelets stick to the injury site, they become activated and undergo shape changes that allow them to aggregate, or clump together. This aggregation results in the formation of a platelet plug, which temporarily seals the breach in the vessel wall and helps limit blood loss.

This phase is vital because it serves as the first response to vascular injury, providing a quick defense mechanism while the body prepares for subsequent phases of hemostasis, such as the coagulation cascade, where fibrin formation occurs. The other choices provided refer to processes that occur during or are related to overall hemostatic responses but do not specifically describe the primary function of the platelet phase.