Blood Clotting and Platelets

Questions and Answers

They become narrower

They develop holes (correct)

They release chemicals to attract platelets

They become stronger

To produce clotting factors

To build fibers around the cut

To form a plug to stop bleeding (correct)

To attract blood cells to the cut

Clotting

Hemostasis

Coagulation (correct)

Blood Cirulation

To help platelets stick together Signup and view all the answers

The formation of a platelet plug Signup and view all the answers

To stop bleeding Signup and view all the answers

They stick together and to the sides of the cut Signup and view all the answers

Chemical signals Signup and view all the answers

It attracts clotting factors Signup and view all the answers

To stop bleeding Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

When we get a cut, it causes holes in the walls of our blood vessels, which can lead to unhealthy blood loss.

Coagulation is the process of liquid blood becoming a solid clot to stop bleeding.
It involves the formation of clots that work like natural Band-Aids to stop bleeding from inside the blood vessels.
Three substances found in blood work together to make clots: platelets, clotting factors, and blood cells.

Platelets are tiny sticky cells found in blood.
They spring into action when a blood vessel is damaged, responding to chemical signals sent through the blood.
Platelets rush to the site of the cut and bleeding, sticking together and to the sides of the cut to plug the hole and stop the bleeding.
They form a plug, which is the first step of the coagulation process.

Clotting factors are proteins that help the platelets stick together and build fibers around the platelet plug.
They can be thought of as spiders building a sticky web, making the plug stronger and keeping it in place.

Red blood cells and white blood cells can get caught in the web of platelets and fibers, becoming part of the clot.
These extra cells help strengthen the clot.