Blood clotting cascade

Question 1

What is the function of blood clotting?

Answer 1

Blood clots can protect from pathogens by forming hardened plagues around the site of damage which prevents pathogenic access

Question 2

What attracts Platelets?

Answer 2

Platelets are attracted to collagen - produced from damaged endothelial cells/cells in general when they become damaged

Question 3

What is a platelet?

Answer 3

A platelet is a fragment of a cell which is attracted to collagen. They are sticky when exposed to collagen in order to form a platelet plug, they release thromboplastin

Question 4

What is thromboplastin?

Answer 4

Thromboplastin is an enzyme that activates prothrombin and converts it into thrombin (needs vitamin K and calcium ions)

Question 5

What is thrombin?

Answer 5

Thrombin catalyses the conversion of fibrinogen (soluble) to fibrin (insoluble

Question 6

What is the order of the blood clotting cascade?

Answer 6

Damage (collagen) -> Platelets stick to the damaged wall, forming platelet plug -> Thromboplastin is released from damaged tissue + platelets -> Thromboplastin activates prothrombin and converts it into thrombin (needs vitamin K and calcium ions) -> Thrombin catalyses the conversion of fibrinogen (soluble) to fibrin (insoluble) -> A mesh of fibres trap more platelets, forming a clot

Question 7

What ion is needed for blood clots to form?

Answer 7

Calcium ions

Question 8

Which vitamin is needed for blood clots to form?

Answer 8

Vitamin K

Question 9

What is fibrins function?

Answer 9

To form a sticky, fibrous mesh

Question 10

What does the fibrous mesh do?

Answer 10

Traps platelets to increase the blood clots size

Question 11

What is the danger of having too much calcium ions?

Answer 11

The increased amount of calcium can cause the formation of hardened plaques (atheromas) to form