Coagulation Cascade

A series of vocabulary flashcards covering significant terms and concepts related to the coagulation cascade.

Components of Blood

Plasma, leukocytes, erythrocytes, and platelets.

Role of Platelets

Platelets initiate clotting by adhering to vessel injury and secreting factors.

Coagulation Cascade

A series of protein complexes activated to form a blood clot.

Normal Platelet Count

150,000-400,000/mm³.

Plasma vs Serum

Serum is plasma without clotting factors.

Fibrinogen

The most plentiful clotting factor in plasma.

Thrombocytopenia

A condition where platelet count is less than 100,000/mm³.

Hemostasis

The process of a clot plugging a damaged vessel to stop bleeding.

Clotting Factors

Proteins that stabilize the platelet plug and promote clot formation.

Anti-thrombin III (AT III)

A circulating inhibitor of thrombin that stops the clotting process.

Fibrinolysis

The breakdown of fibrin in blood clots.

Intrinsic Pathway

A coagulation pathway activated by damage to blood vessels.

Extrinsic Pathway

A coagulation pathway initiated by tissue injury.

t-PA

Tissue plasminogen activator, initiates intravascular fibrinolysis.

u-PA

Urokinase plasminogen activator, major activator of fibrinolysis in tissue.

Meshwork of Fibrin

Formed during coagulation to stabilize the platelet plug.