Why does surgical removal of the spleen cause people to have an increased platelet count?

a. The bone marrow makes more platelets when the person has no spleen.
b. The 30% of platelets normally stored in the spleen are freely circulating.
c. Antibodies produced after splenectomy attack platelets.
d. Surgery stimulates platelet growth factors.

ANS: B
Normally, about 30% of the total platelet count is stored or sequestered in the spleen. When the spleen is removed (splenectomy), the platelet count will temporarily increase until the bone marrow adjusts its production of platelets to reestablish an essentially reference range platelet count.