Haemostasis Flashcards
What is haemostasis?
The process in which excessive blood loss in prevented at the site of a damaged vessel through activation of the clotting factors and platelets
What does a platelet contain?
GPIb receptor GPIIb/IIIa receptor Glycogen for energy Alpha granules Actin and myosin fibrils that enable the platelet to change shape
What is in an alpha granule?
Clotting factors V, VIII, fibrinogen (I), vWF, and PDGF
What are the sequences of events that occur within a damaged vessel?
Localised vasoconstriction by humoral factors —> Platelet adhesion to subendothelium —> Platelet activation and aggregation —> Activation of platelet cascade —> Fibrin formation —> Thrombus formation —> Fibrinolytic degradation of clot and vessel repair
How does a damaged vessel cause platelet adhesion?
Collagen in the endothelium becomes exposed. Platelets adhere to the collagen through vWF and GPIb for tethering and rolling of the platelets. GPIIb/IIIa receptors then interact with vWF for a stronger bond.
How does platelet aggregation occur?
Receptors interact with neighbouring platelets.
What does the damaged endothelium produce?
ADP is released from the injured cell to activate metabolites in the platelets.
What do platelets release in order to recruit more platelets?
Thromboxane A2.
What do the platelets release for coagulation activation?
Dense and alpha granules released to activate the cascade for fibrin formation
What does fibrin do?
Fibrin deposits over the platelets and traps RBCs to form a clot.
What is the coagulation cascade?
Sequence of protein interactions that cause fibrin deposits.
What is the function of the extrinsic pathway?
Initiates coagulation
What is the function of the intrinsic pathway?
Amplifies the cascade
What must be present in order for coagulation factors to be present?
Clotting factors must be bound to the -vely charged phospholipid surface of the disrupted membrane to form a binding site.
Where are coagulation factors synthesised?
In the liver and travel in the circulation as inactive precursors.
Which coagulation factors require fat soluble vitamin K?
Prothrombin, FVII, IX, X - activate to proteases
What is FV a cofactor for?
FX
What is FVIII a cofactor for?
FIX