Blutgerinnungskaskade
The Blutgerinnungskaskade, or coagulation cascade in English, is a complex series of biochemical reactions that leads to the formation of a blood clot. This process is essential for hemostasis, the cessation of bleeding, and is a critical defense mechanism against excessive blood loss following injury. The cascade involves numerous proteins called clotting factors, which are mostly enzymes that activate each other in a specific sequence.
There are two main pathways that initiate the coagulation cascade: the intrinsic pathway and the extrinsic
Thrombin plays a central role in the cascade. It converts soluble fibrinogen into insoluble fibrin. Fibrin