koagulatsioonisüsteemiga

The coagulation system, also known as the hemostasis system, is a complex cascade of biochemical reactions that occurs in the blood to prevent excessive bleeding when a blood vessel is injured. This intricate process involves a series of proteins called clotting factors, which are mostly enzymes synthesized in the liver. When a blood vessel is damaged, these clotting factors are activated in a specific sequence, leading to the formation of a fibrin clot.

The coagulation cascade can be broadly divided into two main pathways: the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways. The intrinsic pathway is initiated by damage to the blood vessel itself, while the extrinsic pathway is triggered by tissue factor released from damaged tissues outside the blood vessel. Both pathways converge to a common pathway that ultimately leads to the conversion of fibrinogen, a soluble protein, into fibrin, an insoluble protein.

Fibrin then forms a mesh-like network that traps blood cells and platelets, forming a stable clot. This clot seals the injured blood vessel, preventing further blood loss. Once the vessel has healed, the clot is broken down by another system called fibrinolysis, which involves enzymes like plasmin. Disruptions in the coagulation system can lead to either excessive bleeding (hemorrhage) or inappropriate clot formation (thrombosis), both of which can have serious health consequences. Many inherited and acquired disorders affect the coagulation system.