Question

Write a short note on blood clotting.

Answer 1

1. Blood clotting or coagulation is the process of turning liquid blood into a semisolid state.
2. The clotting process can be begun by blood contact with any foreign surface (intrinsic process) or by contact with damaged tissue (extrinsic process).
3. Both intrinsic and extrinsic processes include the interaction of several substances known as clotting factors through a stepwise or cascade method.
4. There are twelve clotting factors in total, numbered I through XII (factor VI is no longer in use).
5. The interaction of these components results in the synthesis of the enzyme Thromboplastin, which aids in the formation of the enzyme prothrombinase.
6. Heparin is inactivated by prothrombinase, which also transforms inactive prothrombin to active thrombin.
7. Thrombin turns soluble fibrinogen in the blood into insoluble fibrin. To produce the clot, fibrin forms a web in which platelets and other blood cells are trapped.
8.  These reactions take 2 to 8 minutes to occur. As a result, the clotting time is stated to be 2 to 8 minutes.