Which cells are responsible for the initial response to wound healing?

The cells primarily responsible for the initial response to wound healing are thrombocytes, commonly known as platelets. When a wound occurs, these cells are among the first to arrive at the injury site. They play a crucial role in responding to the injury by rapidly adhering to the exposed edges of the broken tissue.

Thrombocytes help initiate hemostasis, the process of stopping bleeding, by aggregating at the wound site and forming a temporary plug. They release signaling molecules that attract other cells involved in the healing process, including leukocytes and other types of immune cells. Through this aggregation and the release of growth factors, thrombocytes help orchestrate the subsequent phases of wound healing, including inflammation and tissue repair.

While leukocytes, particularly neutrophils, are also essential in responding to injuries—primarily for fighting infection—the role of thrombocytes is specifically about the immediate response to control bleeding, forming the crucial first step in the wound healing process. Erythrocytes, or red blood cells, primarily function in oxygen transport and do not play a direct role in the wound healing process.