Blood Clotting
The Coagulation Process
What is Blood?
• Blood is a fluid that carries nutrients,
gases, and wastes through the body.
• The blood consists of these
components: Red blood cells, white
blood cells, platelets, and plasma.
• Blood is responsible for transporting
oxygen to the whole body.
What is Blood Clotting?
• When you cut your finger, capillaries
are perforated and blood begins to
seep out.
• Blood coagulation has to occur in order
to stop blood from coming out to
prevent more serious injury or death.
• Being able to form blood clots is vital
for survival.
Coagulation Process
• When a blood carrying vessel is
perforated or torn collagen fibers and
other tissues are exposed and the vessel
constricts decreasing blood flow to the
injury.
• When these tissues are exposed the
enzyme thrombin is released.
• Thrombin activates the clotting factor in
platelets causing them to become sticky.
Coagulation Process
• The platelets begin to stick together at the
wound site binding to the exposed fibers.
• Platelets release several chemicals and
change their shape to fit the formation of
the plug.
• Then, a fibrin mesh forms and insures the
clot will stay.
• Finally, the blood clot must dissolve in
order to restore normal blood flow to the
vessel.
Works Cited
• King, Michael. "Blood Coagulation". UI
School Of Medicine. October 3, 2009
<http://themedicalbiochemistrypage.org/bloo
d-coagulation.html>.
• Moake, Joel. "Introduction: Bleeding and
Clotting Disorders". Merks Manuals. October
23, 2009
<http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec14/ch173/c
h173a.html>.
•
•