The process of blood clotting or coagulation is the body's natural mechanism to stop bleeding when an injury or injury occurs. This process is complex and involves various elements in the blood.
When a cut or injury occurs, blood vessels can be damaged and bleeding occurs. To stop the bleeding, the body will naturally run a mechanism to heal wounds through the process of blood clotting.
There are several important phases in the blood clotting process, including the formation of blockages by platelets or platelets and the phase of blood clotting.
The process of blood clotting is a complex process, in which blood forms clots or blood clots to close and heal wounds, and stop bleeding.
Elements of the Blood Clotting Process
The process of blood coagulation will not occur without the role of several "actors". In this case, coagulation involves platelets and clotting factor components. Here is the explanation:
Platelets
Platelets or platelets are disc-shaped elements in the blood and are often classified as blood cells. In fact, platelets are actually part of the bone marrow cells called cells megakaryocytes.
Platelets play a role in forming blood clots to slow or stop bleeding and speed up the wound healing process.
Factorcoagulation(clotting factor)
Coagulation factors are a number of proteins that play an important role in blood clotting reactions and are mostly produced in the liver. There are 13 coagulation factors in the blood and tissues of the human body, namely:
- Factor I: Fibrinogen
- Factor II: Prothrombin
- Factor III: Thrombokinase
- Factor IV: Calcium
- Factor V: Proaccelerin
- Factor VII: Proconvertin
- Factor VIII: Plasmokinin
- Factor IX: Prothromboplastin beta
- Factor X: Prothrombinase
- Factor XI: PTA Faktor Factor
- Factor XII: Hageman Factor
- Factor XIII: Fibrinase
Blood Coagulation Process
The normal blood clotting process goes through a complex series of interactions. The following is a blood clotting process from start to finish.
1. Platelets form blockages
Platelets or blood platelets will react when a blood vessel is damaged or there is an injury. Platelets will stick to the walls of the injured body area and together form a blockage.
The blockage aims to close the damaged skin tissue, so that the blood that comes out can be stopped. Platelets can also release chemicals to attract more platelets and other cells to take the coagulation process to the next stage.
2. Formation of blood clots
Clotting factors signal each other to initiate a rapid chain reaction. This reaction is known as the coagulation cascade.
At the end of this stage, a coagulation factor called thrombin converts fibrinogen into fibrin strands. Fibrin works by sticking to platelets to create a net that can trap more platelets and cells. Clots or clots become stronger and more durable.
3. Stopping the blood clotting process
Once a blood clot is formed and bleeding is under control. Other proteins will stop the clotting factors from continuing to clot further than necessary.
4. Tthe body slowly removes the blockage
When the damaged skin tissue heals, the natural plug is no longer needed. The fibrin strands are destroyed and the blood takes back platelets and cells from the blood clot.
Blood Coagulation Process Abnormalities
Not everyone experiences a normal blood clotting process. Abnormalities in the blood clotting process can cause excessive bleeding. This condition is also known as hemophilia, in which there is a deficiency of coagulation factor VIII or IX. In this disease, the bleeding that occurs is difficult to stop.
Conversely, disruption of the blood clotting process can also cause excessive blood clotting so that it can interfere with blood circulation. This condition is also known as thick blood.
Blood clots may also form, although they are not necessary. This condition can lead to serious medical conditions, such as heart attack, pulmonary embolism, and stroke.
Therefore, to prevent abnormal blood clotting, it is recommended to be diligent in moving and exercising, not smoking, and adopting a healthy lifestyle.
If there are complaints in the form of easy bruising, bleeding is difficult to stop when an injury occurs, frequent nosebleeds, or there are bruising in the joints, it is possible that the blood clotting process is disrupted. You are advised to consult a doctor so that treatment can be carried out immediately.