Cite this page: Parsons J. Hemostasis. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/coagulationnormalhemostasis.html. Accessed June 1st, 2020.
Definition / general
- Involves formation of blood clots to stop bleeding from damaged vessels, and activation of natural anticoagulation and fibrinolytic systems to limit clot formation to sites of injury
- Bleeding disorders are due to defects in clot formation or overactive fibrinolytic systems
- Hypercoagulability disorders are due to defects in anticoagulant system or underactive fibrinolytic systems
- Primary hemostasis: initial step of forming platelet plug to stop bleeding from damaged vessel
- Secondary hemostasis: platelet plug is reinforced by fibrin clot
- Then fibrin clot is stabilized by activated factor XIII, which cross-links fibrin strands
- Tertiary hemostasis: as fibrin clot is formed, plasmin is generated to break down the clot
- Fibrin clot may occur via intrinsic or extrinsic pathway or both; in vivo it occurs via a hybrid model
Diagrams / tables
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Coagulation
Flickr images courtesy of Kendall Crookston, M.D., Ph.D.:
Intrinsic, common, and extrinsic pathways
In vivo coagulation cascade
Additional references
