BLOOD CLOTTING MECHANISM

BLOOD CLOTTING MECHANISM

is a body mechanism to reduce and stop blood loss from the injured blood vessel.

The importance of blood clotting

a) Prevent serious blood loss when a person is injured b) Maintain blood pressure c) Maintain the circulation of blood in a closed circulatory system d) Prevent the entry of microorganisms and foreign substances into the body through the damage of blood vessels.

The mechanism of blood clotting

Small injury
When a vessel in the body is damaged, the connective tissue in the vessel wall will exposed to blood plasma

Platelets

Platelets stick rapidly to the collagen fibres in the connective tissue and release chemicals called clotting factors that make the surrounding platelets sticky.

The aggregation of platelets forms a plug called platelet plug at the damaged vessel. Bleeding will stop.

Severe injury
The clumped platelets, the damaged cells and clotting factors in the plasma form thromboplastins (activator)

Thromboplastins together with calcium ions and vitamin K, convert the prothrombin (an inactive plasma protein) to thrombin (an active plasma protein)

Thrombin convert fibrinogen (soluble protein) in blood plasma into fibrin (insoluble protein).
Fibrin is fibrous protein which aggregates to form a mesh of long threads over the wound, trapping red blood cells and sealing the wounds.

The resulting blood clot hardens when exposed to air to form scab.

BLOOD CLOTTING COMPONENT

Fibrin

Platelet
Red blood cell

Exercise
1) Explain how a platelet plug is formed
A platelet plug is formed when platelets stick to the collagen fibres in the connective tissue and release chemicals that make nearby platelets sticky and clumped together.

2) Thrombin, fibrin, prothrombin and fibrinogen are four types of proteins Arrange in sequence the involvement of these proteins during blood clotting.
Prothrombin, thrombin, fibrinogen, fibrin.

Problems related to the blood clotting

Haemophilia
Is a hereditary disease. Caused by lack of clotting factors in blood May cause death due to the excessive bleeding from minor cuts and bruises. Also can cause spontaneous internal bleeding.

Problems related to the blood clotting

Thrombosis
formation of blood clot in unbroken blood vessel Caused by the defect in blood vessel wall or the blood flows too slowly.
The clot formed is called thrombus. If thrombus travel in blood stream, it is called an embolus. embolus stuck in coronary artery- heart attack Embolus stuck in brain artery- stroke

BLOOD CLOTTING MECHANISM ANIMATION

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