Haemostasis Basics Flashcards
what type of feedback system is blood coagulation
positive feedback
Define haemostatsis
Haemostatsis is defined as the cessation of bleeding at a vascular injury site via the formation of a thrombus
what is the two primary components of a thrombus
- platelet plug
- fibrin clot
describe what a platelet plug is
- this is when the circulating platelets form a physical plus by adhering to the injury site and each other
- aggregation of platelets is termed primary haemostats
what is the difference between primary and secondary haemostatsis
- primary haemostatsis is the platelet plug
- secondary haemostats is the fibrin clot
describe what a fibrin clot is
- activation of coagulation factor proteases results in a protease thrombin
- thrombin is essential for the production of fibrin monomers
- these are cross linked and form a meshwork around the platelet plug
- this is termed secondary haemostasis
Describe the structure of platelets
- NOT CELLS, little bags of cytoplasm shed from megakaryocytic
- no nuclei
- 1-4um in diameter
- each megakaryocyte can produce over 1000 platelets
how long can platelets survive for
- there are about 1-2 platelets per 20 RBC
- survive 8.5-10 days and have a half life of 4 days
what regulates platelet production
- Megakaryocyte and platelet production is regulated by thrombopoietin, a hormone produced in the kidneys and liver.
what is a low platelet count called
what is a high platelet count called
thrombocytopenia
thrombocytosis
Describe how the platelet plug forms (primary haemostasis)
- damaged endothelium
- this means that collagen underneath the endothelium is exposed to the blood
- Von willebrand factor (VWF) binds to the exposed collagen
- platelets then bind to the VWF via the platelet GP1b receptors (platelets can also bind directly to the collagen via Gp1a and Gp6 receptors but this is very weak)
- the VWF has formed a bridge between the collagen and platelets, this is called platelet adherence
- the adherent platelets express the GP2b/3a receptor
- GP2b/3a receptors bind to fibrinogen which binds more platelets to form a meshwork this is called platelet aggregation
- the binding of platelets cause the platelets to become activated
- they change shape and become spiky and entailed together
- they release ADP and thromboxane A2 (TXA2) and serotonin (5-HT) from granules, this is called the platelet release reaction
- ADP & TXA2 attract more platelets to the site which aggregate to form a platelet plug.
- 5-HT acts on local smooth muscle to increases local vasoconstriction.
- The spiky platelets in turn release cytokines which attract even more platelets and so a positive feedback system operates until a plug large enough to stop the bleeding is formed.
what normally prevents platelet adhesion
- the endothelium which is intact continuously releases nitric oxide and prostacyclin (PG12) this prevents platelet adhesion
- this also happens adjacent to the damage endothelium to prevent the platelet plug from separating
what is van willebrand factor
- it is a glycoprotein that circulates in the blood and binds to the exposed collagen
what receptors do the platelets bind to when creating the platelet plug
- platelets then bind to the VWF via platelet GP1b receptors.
- Platelets can also bind directly to collagen via Gp1a and Gp6 receptors: However without VWF the binding is very weak and the platelets are easily dislodged).
what is platelet adherence
- when the platelets bind to the VWF via platelet GP1b receptors
- this means that the VWF has formed a bridge between the collagen and platelets this is called platelet adherence
where is Von williebrand factor stored
stored in the endothelial cells, inside granules called Weibel–Palade bodies (WPBs)
what substances are released in the platelet release reaction
- They release adenosine diphosphate (ADP), thromboxane A2 (TXA2) and serotonin (5-HT) from granules
what does ADP and TXA2 do in the platelet plug
- ADP & TXA2 attract more platelets to the site which aggregate to form a platelet plug.
what does 5HT do in the platelet plug
5-HT acts on local smooth muscle to increases local vasoconstriction which reduces the local blood flow
where is VWF made
liver
what determines the bleeding time
- the formation of the platelet plug determines the bleeding time
how long does it take for bleeding to stop
normally stops within 1-9 minutes but may be longer in children (1-13 minutes) and tends to take slightly longer in females than in males
what does the bleeding time test involve (test for platelet function)
- A lancet or scalpel blade is used to make a shallow incision 1 millimeter deep on the underside of the forearm.
- The time from when the incision is made until all bleeding has stopped is measured and is called the bleeding time
- Normal values fall between 3 – 10 minutes.
what are the three pathways in the fibrin clot
- extrinsic pathway
- intrinsic pathway
- common pathway