Chapter 14, Problem 1KQ

Summary Introduction

To describe: How the platelets and the factors of the clotting cascade contribute to hemostasis.

Introduction: The process of prevention of loss of blood or arrest of bleeding during blood vessel injury is referred as hemostasis. This process is accomplished through complex interactions between the vessel wall, platelets, and the plasma coagulation proteins. Excessive and inadequate hemostasis leads to inappropriate clotting or thrombosis and bleeding.

Explanation of Solution

The process of hemostasis involves several critical steps, such as vasospasm, platelet plug formation, and clotting cascade activation in order to form a fibrin clot. By enhancing the vessel repair, vasoconstriction, and platelet aggregation, the factors of the platelets contribute to hemostasis. The activation of the factors of clotting cascade results in the formation of fibrin clots. This clot formation of fibrin is initiated by extrinsic or intrinsic pathway and each of which requires the sequential activation of particular clotting factors. This results in the formation of fibrin clot.