Describe the process of blood clotting in human beings.
Answer:
- When blood vessels are damaged, blood comes out and platelets are exposed to air and they
rupture on the damaged tissue.
-On rupturing, they release an enzyme called thrombokinase or thromboplastin.
-Thrombokinase is an enzyme that initiates the process of blood clotting by neutralizing anticlotting
or anti-coagulant factor called heparin.
- It also catalyses conversion of inactive prothrombin to active thrombin in presence of
calcium ions. Vitamin K is needed for formation of prothrombin in the liver.
-Thrombin activates conversion of soluble plasma protein fibrinogen to insoluble fibrin fibres.
-Fibrin forms a meshwork of fibres on the cut surface to trap red blood cells to form a
clot.
-When the clot dries up, it forms a scab that stops excessive bleeding and also protects
the damaged tissues from entry of pathogens or infections.