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Megakaryocytes are the largest cells seen in bone marrow aspiarates, and produce platelets by cytoplasmic fragmentation.

The precursor of of the megakaryocytes in bone marrow is the megaryoblast, which duplicates its nuclear and cytoplasmic constiuents up to seven times without cell division, each causing increased ploidy, nuclear lobulation and cell size.

cytoplasmic maturation involves the elaboration of granules, vesicles and demarcation membranes and progessive loss of free ribosomes and rough endoplasmic reticulum.