blood clotting
blood clot
| Noun | 1. | blood clotting - a process in which liquid blood is changed into a semisolid mass (a blood clot) |
blood clotting
blood clotting,
process by which the blood coagulates to form solid masses, or clots. In minor injuries, small oval bodies called platelets, or thrombocytes, tend to collect and form plugs in blood vessel openings. To control bleeding from vessels larger than capillaries a clot must form at the point of injury. The coagulation of the blood is also initiated by the blood platelets. The platelets produce a substance that combines with calcium ions in the blood to form thromboplastin, which in turn converts the protein prothrombin into thrombin in a complex series of reactions. Thrombin, a proteolytic enzyme, converts fibrinogen, a protein substance, into fibrin, an insoluble protein that forms an intricate network of minute threadlike structures called fibrils and causes the blood plasma to gel. The blood cells and plasma are enmeshed in the network of fibrils to form the clot. Blood clotting can be initiated by the extrinsic mechanism, in which substances from damaged tissues are mixed with the blood, or by the intrinsic mechanism, in which the blood itself is traumatized. More than 30 substances in blood have been found to affect clotting; whether or not blood will coagulate depends on a balance between those substances that promote coagulation (procoagulants) and those that inhibit it (anticoagulantsanticoagulant, any of several substances that inhibit blood clot formation (see blood clotting). Some anticoagulants, such as the coumarin derivatives bishydroxycoumarin (Dicumarol) and warfarin (Coumadin) inhibit synthesis of prothrombin, a clot-forming substance, and other
..... Click the link for more information. ). Prothrombin, a substance essential to the clotting mechanism, is produced by the liver in the presence of vitamin K. When the body is deficient in this vitamin, bleeding is more difficult to control. In hemophiliacs, or "bleeders," the blood's coagulation time is greatly prolonged (see hemophiliahemophilia
, genetic disease in which the clotting ability of the blood is impaired and excessive bleeding results. The disease is transmitted through females but almost invariably affects male offspring only.
..... Click the link for more information. ). The coagulation of blood within blood vessels in the absence of injury can cause serious illness or death, especially when a clot forms in the coronary arteries (thrombosisthrombosis
, obstruction of an artery or vein by a blood clot (thrombus). Arterial thrombosis is generally more serious because the supply of oxygen and nutrition to an area of the body is halted.
..... Click the link for more information. ) or cerebral arteries (strokestroke,
destruction of brain tissue as a result of intracerebral hemorrhage or infarction caused by thrombosis (clotting) or embolus (obstruction in a blood vessel caused by clotted blood or other foreign matter circulating in the bloodstream); formerly called apoplexy.
..... Click the link for more information. or apoplexy). To prevent coagulation of the blood in persons with known tendency to clot formation, and also as prophylaxis before performing surgery or blood transfusion, the blood's natural anticlotting substance, heparin, is reinforced by an additional amount of an anticoagulant such as Dicumarol injected into the body.
blood clotting
blood clot·ting
(blŭd kloting)Synonym(s): blood coagulation.
blood clotting
The cascaded sequence of changes which occur when blood comes in contact with damaged tissue and which culminates in the production of a solid seal in the damaged vessel. At least 13 factors are consecutively involved in a process that culminates in the conversion of the protein fibrinogen to the fibrin that forms the main constituent of the clot. This last stage is catalyzed by the enzyme thrombin. The smooth endothelial lining of the blood vessels normally prevents clotting within the circulation, but damage to this lining may allow THROMBOSIS to occur.
blood clotting
a condition where elements in the BLOOD PLASMA change consistency from a liquid to a gel-like structure, causing a ‘clot’ to form at the site of damage. The process of clotting is complex, but can be summarized as follows:- damage to the blood circulatory system causes both BLOOD PLATELETS and the BLOOD VESSELS to secrete thromboplastin (see HAEMOPHILIA).
- thromboplastin, in the presence of calcium ions, causes prothrombin (a globulin type of plasma protein produced in the liver when vitamin K is present) to change to thrombin (see ANTICOAGULANT).
- thrombin acts as an ENZYME, causing FIBRINOGEN (another type of plasma protein) to be changed to fibrin which, when it contracts, forms a mesh of fibres in which blood cells become trapped. The final result of clotting is a hard lump which can plug the damaged area (if not too large) thus preventing further loss of blood and entry of microorganisms from outside.
Patient discussion about blood clotting
Q. What causes blood clots? My father had a heart attack which was caused by a blood clot. Am I at risk for developing blood clots too? How do I prevent it from happening?
http://www.dnadirect.com/patients/tests/blood_clotting/more_about/GH_Thr_Risk.jsp
Q. How can I prevent blood clots? I am 45 years old and am supposed to go on a business trip overseas. The flight itself is 12 hours long and then I have to continue traveling by bus. Could this cause me to have blood clots? If so, how can I prevent it?
Q. very dark blood clots @ first sight of period? At first sight of period, instead of normal rosy spotting it's brownish spotting followed by small clots.
stay healthy always..
blood clotting
- noun
Synonyms for blood clotting
noun a process in which liquid blood is changed into a semisolid mass (a blood clot)
Synonyms
- blood coagulation
Related Words
- clotting
- coagulation
- curdling
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