Final answer:
The term for a mass of platelets that stops minor bleeding after an injury is a platelet plug, which is also known as a fibrin clot. Platelets, or thrombocytes, are crucial for blood clotting and come from megakaryocytes in the bone marrow.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term for a mass of platelets that reduces minor bleeding following an injury is a platelet plug. When a blood vessel is damaged, platelets are attracted to the site of the injury. These platelets stick to the damaged area and release contents that activate other platelets. Together with other coagulation factors, they form a fibrin clot, trapping red blood cells and stopping further blood loss as well as bacterial entry. This platelet plug is essential for the initial response to vascular injury and paves the way for more durable repairs during the process known as coagulation, which solidifies the clot.
Platelets, also known as thrombocytes, are small cell fragments derived from megakaryocytes in the bone marrow. They play a critical role in hemostasis, the cessation of bleeding, by forming the initial plug at the site of vascular injury. Without proper platelet function, or in the case of vitamin K deficiency which is needed by clotting factors, an individual may experience difficulties with blood clotting.