hyytymisreitistön

Hyytymisreitistö, also known as the coagulation cascade or hemostasis, is a complex biological process that prevents excessive bleeding when a blood vessel is injured. It involves a series of enzymatic reactions where inactive clotting factors in the blood are sequentially activated, leading to the formation of a fibrin clot. This clot seals the damaged blood vessel, stopping blood loss.

There are two main pathways within the coagulation cascade: the intrinsic pathway and the extrinsic pathway. The intrinsic pathway is initiated by damage within the blood vessel itself, while the extrinsic pathway is triggered by external trauma to the vessel. Both pathways converge at a common pathway, ultimately leading to the activation of thrombin. Thrombin is a key enzyme that converts fibrinogen, a soluble protein in plasma, into fibrin, which forms the meshwork of the clot.

Platelets also play a crucial role in hemostasis. When a blood vessel is injured, platelets adhere to the damaged site, aggregate to form a platelet plug, and release substances that further promote clotting. The coagulation cascade is a finely tuned system, with both procoagulant and anticoagulant mechanisms working in balance to ensure effective clot formation without causing spontaneous thrombosis. Deficiencies or abnormalities in any of the clotting factors can lead to bleeding disorders such as hemophilia.