haemostasis Flashcards
(91 cards)
What is haemostasis?
Haemostasis is the mechanism by which the body ensures that blood remains fluid while damaged vessels are quickly fixed to stop excess loss.
Why is haemostasis important?
Haemostasis is important because bleeding due to injury must stop quickly to minimise blood loss. Problems with haemostasis can lead to either haemorrhage or excessive blood clot formation, both of which can be extremely dangerous and can lead to death if not treated quickly.
What is primary haemostasis?
Primary haemostasis is the initial response to blood vessel injury and involves interactions between platelets and vascular endothelial cells.
What is secondary haemostasis?
Secondary haemostasis involves the coagulation cascade and the activation of clotting factors that leads to the formation of a fibrin clot, which helps to stabilise the platelet plug and prevent further blood loss.
What are the two main stages of haemostasis?
The two main stages of haemostasis are primary haemostasis and secondary haemostasis.
What is the coagulation cascade?
The coagulation cascade is a series of reactions that involves the activation of clotting factors and the formation of a fibrin clot, which helps to stabilise the platelet plug and prevent further blood loss.
What are the consequences of problems with haemostasis?
Problems with haemostasis can lead to either haemorrhage or excessive blood clot formation, both of which can be extremely dangerous and can lead to death if not treated quickly.
How can haemostasis be managed?
Haemostasis can be managed through a variety of methods, including medications that prevent excessive blood clot formation, blood transfusions to replace lost blood, and surgery to repair damaged blood vessels.
What is the process of erythropoiesis?
Erythropoiesis is the process by which red blood cells are produced in the bone marrow.
What hormone stimulates erythropoiesis?
The hormone erythropoietin (EPO) stimulates erythropoiesis.
What is the process of thrombopoiesis?
Thrombopoiesis is the process by which platelets are produced in the bone marrow.
What hormone stimulates thrombopoiesis?
The hormone thrombopoietin (TPO) stimulates thrombopoiesis.
What is the role of von Willebrand factor (vWF) in primary hemostasis?
vWF is a protein that helps platelets adhere to the site of vascular injury and form a platelet plug.
What is the role of fibrinogen in secondary hemostasis?
Fibrinogen is a protein that is converted to fibrin through the coagulation cascade, which forms the structural basis of a blood clot.
What is the function of megakaryocytes in haemostasis?
Megakaryocytes are responsible for forming platelets via endomitosis in the bone marrow.
What is endomitosis?
Endomitosis is a type of cell division in which DNA replication occurs without cell division. This results in a cell with a large, complicated nucleus containing multiple copies of DNA.
How are platelets formed from megakaryocytes?
The megakaryocyte cytoskeleton rearranges and pro-platelet extensions are formed in the periphery of the megakaryocyte. Microtubules facilitate the movement of organelles in the pro-platelets extensions, which consist of part of the megakaryocyte cytoplasm.
What are the membrane glycoproteins involved in platelet function?
The membrane glycoproteins involved in platelet function include Glycoprotein Ib, Glycoproteins Ia – IIa and VI, and Glycoproteins IIb/IIIa.
What is the function of Glycoprotein Ib in platelet function?
Glycoprotein Ib plays a role in initial platelet attachment to von Willebrand factor and the vascular endothelium.
What is the function of Glycoproteins Ia – IIa and VI in platelet function?
Glycoproteins Ia – IIa and VI facilitate platelet adhesion to collagen.
What is the function of Glycoproteins IIb/IIIa in platelet function?
Glycoproteins IIb/IIIa are involved in adhesion to fibrinogen and additional adhesion to von Willebrand factor, as well as platelet-to-platelet adhesion.
What are the contents of electron dense granules in platelets?
- Nucleotides (ADP)
- Serotonin
- Ca2+
What are the contents of alpha granules in platelets?
- Fibrinogen
- Factor V
- Heparin antagonist
- Platelet Derived Growth Factor (PDGF)
How does vascular injury lead to platelet adhesion and activation?
- Vascular injury exposes collagen fibres which causes platelet adhesion and activation.
- The endothelial damage and exposure of collagen triggers the platelet adhesion.