Introduction Flashcards
What are the 2 systems of haemostasis?
platelets
clotting factors
What are platelets?
circulating cells that form aggregates at sites of vascular damage
What are clotting factors?
Circulating proteins that form fibrin fibres at sites of vascular injury
What do defects of platelets or clotting factors lead to?
Spontaneous bleeding eg. nosebleeds or heavy menstrual bleeding
Define thrombosis.
Pathological process of clot formation inside vessels in absence of vascular injury
What can deep vein thrombosis cause?
Thrombi fragments formed in deep veins can be carried by blood stream through the right heart into pulmonary arteries -> pulmonary embolism
What thrombosis disease is not associated with PE?
Superficial vein thrombosis
What 3 things can arterial thrombosis cause?
Myocardial infarction
Stroke
Peripheral arterial occlusive disease
What 3 factors control haemostasis and thrombosis?
Blood components
Vascular wall
blood flow
What 4 things are plasma made up of?
electrolytes
plasma proteins
carbohydrates
lipids
How does serum differ from plasma?
Absence of fibrinogen & other coagulation factors
serum is the supernatant
How do you obtain plasma?
Add clotting inhibitors
What is whole blood?
Suspension of cellular elements in plasma
What are serpins?
Serine protease inhibitors that inactivate proteases (irreversible)
What do serpins do?
Inhibit excess clotting factors eg alpha 1 antitrypsin
