Coagulation Flashcards
Hemostasis
Stopping the flow of blood
What does hemostasis prevent
The minor bumps and bruises of daily life from being fatal
What are the three phases of the separate mechanisms?
Mechanical phase
Chemical phase
Final Phase
What two responses make up the mechanical phase?
Vascular response
Platelet response
Vascular response
The arteries and arterioles contract and reduce the size of the lumen when the vessels are damaged
What does the constriction of the vessels do?
Decreases blood flow so less blood is lost
Turbulence activates platelets
Platelet response
When the platelets hit connective tissue or injury they activate and become sticky, grabbing onto each other, creating a plug
von Willebrand’s factor
Required for platelets to stick to the site of injury
Chemical phase
Coagulation mechanism response aka clotting cascade
Involves a number of clotting factors
What two pathways does the chemical phase involve?
Intrinsic and extrinsic pathways
What does the chemical phase result in?
Fibrinogen being converted into fibrin
Final Phase
Degradation of the fibrin clot
Coagulation Mechanism Response or Clotting Cascade
Fibrinogen and other substances in the blood are inactive and when activated they change from a liquid to a semi-solid substance
When activated, what are fibrinogen and other substances called?
Clotting factors
Numbered I-XIII
VI is missing
Activation of clotting factors: Intrinsic Pathways
Activated without tissue contact
Example: IV Catheter placement without proper anti-coagulant
