What is blood clotting?

• Blood clotting is a biological process

• Involves formation of plug at the injured

site.

• It seals up the injured site in the blood

vessels.
 The Mechanism of Blood Clotting

• Involves a series of chemical reactions

initiated by the platelets and leads to the
formation of a blood clot.
 Necessity of blood
clotting(Q.8,SPM 2012)
• to prevent EXCESSIVE blood loss
• to prevent the entry of
microorganisms and foreign particles
into the blood
• to maintain normal blood pressure
• to maintain circulation of blood in a
closed circulatory system
• The wound is sealed/scab is formed
Stages in blood clotting
Damaged blood vessels Platelets clump at the wound

Secretes enzyme

Liver Thrombokinase

Vitamin K

Thrombin
Prothrombin (Active plasma protein)
Ca 2+
(Inactive plasma protein)

Fibrin
Fibrinogen
(Insoluble protein)
(Soluble protein)

Blood clotting
= A fibrous network
When the blood clots, a clear yellowish
fluid(serum), flows out from the wound.

Finally, the blood clot becomes dry and

forms a scab.
The consequences of blood clotting related problems

A hereditary disease because of impaired blood

clotting mechanism (sex linked disease)

Lack of the gene of certain blood clotting factors, e.g.

factor VIII

It is more common in male than in female (usually

female is the carrier whereas male is the patient)

Cause prolonged and serious bleeding (joints) with

major blood loss even with a minor injury.
Caused by the formation of blood clot
in the blood vessels
Thrombus (blood clot in the vessel)
• Blood clot usually occurs in the major arteries
with arteriosclerosis and rarely occurs in veins

• Coronary thrombosis occurs when blood clots in

the coronary arteries. The initial symptom is
Angina (chest pain) ,also can cause heart
attack and death.

• Stroke is caused by thrombosis that occurs in

the arteries that supply blood to the brain.
• Embolus- a small clot moving in
the blood vessels

• The embolus may be trapped in

a small artery where it blocks the
blood flow.
 Test Yourself..
1)Two factors that affect the mechanism of blood
clotting are__________ , which is needed to
produce prothrombin, and ________ which
activates prothrombin to form ________.

2)________ is a genetic disease where the blood

cannot clot or clot very slowly ,while _________
involves the formation of blood clot in the
arteries.
 The mechanism of blood clotting
Injured tissue P Q R S BLOOD CLOT

1.What enzyme brings about the conversion of the inactive P into the
active Q?

2.Q catalyses the conversion of the soluble protein R. What is R?

3. What does S do to make the blood clot?

4.Name one factor that is also necessary for efficient blood clotting.

5.State 2 diseases that are related to impaired blood clotting mechanism.

Explain.
 SPM 2012 (Q.8-ESSAY)

• A boy accidentally cuts his finger. He

bleeds and later the bleeding stop
because of blood clotting.
• Explain the importance of blood clotting.
(4 marks)