Haemostasis Flashcards
What does the clotting process consist of?
- Platelet clumping
- Aggregation of fibrin
- Vasoconstriction
What are platelets?
cell fragments produced by bone marrow
Do platelets contain a a nucleus, mitochondria or vesicles?
contain vesicles that contain blood-clotting factors
When is collagen exposed?
when the blood vessel surface is damaged
Explain the outline of the blood clotting process?
- platelets adhere to the exposed collagen surface
- activated to form platelet plug and release clotting factors
- Promote vasoconstriction and platelet aggregation
- Clotting cascade causes fibrin to be deposited and cross-linked.
Are rbcs and platelets visible in a light microscope?
yes, rbcs large circles and platelets are smaller circles
What are factors and where are they located?
proteins found in the plasma
What is the normal of normal platelets?
Bi-concave
What happens to the platelets when they become active?
shape change
aggregation (starting to stick together) and adhesion
degranulation ( release of chemicals to control haemostasis)
How do platelets become activated?
exposure to collagen and von-willebrand factor
what is the 3 step process for clot formation?
Platelet plug => activating clotting factors
fibrin mesh => covering the plug (soft clot)
clot solidified => formation of crosslinks ( hard clot)
What are pro-enzymes and why are said to be inactive?
inactive enzymes
they have a N-terminal region that blocks the active site of the enzyme
How can pro-enzymes be activated?
Hydrolysing the backbone at the right place using proteases.
Pro-region is removed (no further interest)
Active enzyme can now change substrate to product
What are zymogens?
Proenzymes
Which are the active components fibrin or fibrinogen or thrombin or pro-thrombin?
fibrin and thrombin
What is the role of thrombin?
• Activation of platelets.
• Activation of Factors V,
VIII and XIII.
• Activation of Protein C
What starts the whole of the blood clotting process?
activation of prothrombin
What are cofactors?
proteins that bind to activate the factors