Mechanism of Blood Clotting

10.4

Mechanism of Blood Clotting

The Necessity for Blood Clotting Mechanism

Blood clotting will stop or minimise the loss of blood on the injured blood vessel.
Blood clotting also prevents microorganisms such as bacteria from entering the bloodstream through the damaged blood vessel.
The blood pressure is also maintained because excessive blood loss will lower blood pressure to a dangerous level.

Mechanism of Blood Clotting

Blood clotting involves a series of chemical reactions that takes place in the blood when someone is injured to prevent excessive bleeding.
The coagulated platelets, damaged cells and clotting factors in the blood plasma will form an activator (thrombokinase).
Thrombokinase, with the aid of calcium ions and vitamin K, converts prothrombin to thrombin.
Thrombin (active plasma protein that acts as an enzyme).
Thrombin catalyses the conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin.
Fibrin is a threadlike protein fibre that forms a network on the wound surface to trap erythrocytes and to close the wound to prevent blood loss.

Health Issues Related to Blood Clotting

Haemophilia

Haemophilia is an example of an illness that prevents blood from clotting.
Haemophilia is a hereditary illness caused by the lack of certain clotting factors in the blood.
Excessive bleeding due to small wounds or bruises can result in death.

Thrombosis

Formation of a blood clot (thrombus).
Thrombosis happens as a result of damage in blood vessels or sluggish blood flow that causes clotting factors to accumulate.

Embolism

When a blood clot is transported by blood flow, the blood clot is called embolus.
If the embolus gets stuck in a tiny blood vessel, the blood flow will stop.

10.4

Mechanism of Blood Clotting

The Necessity for Blood Clotting Mechanism

Blood clotting will stop or minimise the loss of blood on the injured blood vessel.
Blood clotting also prevents microorganisms such as bacteria from entering the bloodstream through the damaged blood vessel.
The blood pressure is also maintained because excessive blood loss will lower blood pressure to a dangerous level.

Mechanism of Blood Clotting

Blood clotting involves a series of chemical reactions that takes place in the blood when someone is injured to prevent excessive bleeding.
The coagulated platelets, damaged cells and clotting factors in the blood plasma will form an activator (thrombokinase).
Thrombokinase, with the aid of calcium ions and vitamin K, converts prothrombin to thrombin.
Thrombin (active plasma protein that acts as an enzyme).
Thrombin catalyses the conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin.
Fibrin is a threadlike protein fibre that forms a network on the wound surface to trap erythrocytes and to close the wound to prevent blood loss.

Health Issues Related to Blood Clotting

Haemophilia

Haemophilia is an example of an illness that prevents blood from clotting.
Haemophilia is a hereditary illness caused by the lack of certain clotting factors in the blood.
Excessive bleeding due to small wounds or bruises can result in death.

Thrombosis

Formation of a blood clot (thrombus).
Thrombosis happens as a result of damage in blood vessels or sluggish blood flow that causes clotting factors to accumulate.

Embolism

When a blood clot is transported by blood flow, the blood clot is called embolus.
If the embolus gets stuck in a tiny blood vessel, the blood flow will stop.