Final answer:
The term schistocytes refers to fragmented parts of RBCs that are often associated with various pathological conditions, and not the same as platelets, which are cytoplasmic fragments derived from megakaryocytes crucial for blood clotting.
Step-by-step explanation:
The fragments of RBCs (red blood cells), also called erythrocytes, are not the same as platelets. Red blood cells are responsible for transporting oxygen throughout the body, and are characterized by their biconcave shape and lack of a nucleus in their mature form. Platelets, on the other hand, are actually small fragments derived from the cytoplasm of a larger cell called a megakaryocyte.
Platelets are the correct answer to what fragments of RBCs are commonly called, although this question seems to be somewhat misleading because platelets are not derived from RBCs but from megakaryocytes in the bone marrow. Given the options provided in the question, schistocytes are the term used to describe fragmented parts of RBCs.