process of blood clotting. what is blood clotting? Process of blood clotting and functions of antibodies.
does blood cloth? the questions posted is sounding somehow, right? but that is the reality of the various functions of the blood.
the beautiful thing about blood clothing is the ability of the blood to form a thick tissue naturally on its own in order to stop the loss of flow of blood through an abrasion or wounded tissue which results in blood clotting
Blood clotting, also known as coagulation, is a crucial process that prevents excessive bleeding when a blood vessel is damaged.
It involves the formation of a clot or a solid mass of blood cells and proteins to seal the injured area. Blood clotting is a complex cascade of reactions that involves both cellular and biochemical components.
The process of blood clotting can be summarized in the following steps:
Injury and vessel constriction: When a blood vessel is damaged, it constricts to reduce blood flow to the site of injury, minimizing blood loss.
Platelet activation: Platelets, which are small cell fragments in the blood, adhere to the site of injury and become activated. Activated platelets change shape, release chemical signals, and form aggregates to create a platelet plug.
Formation of a fibrin clot: The activation of platelets triggers a cascade of biochemical reactions known as the coagulation cascade.
This cascade involves a series of clotting factors (proteins) that interact with each other, leading to the production of thrombin.
Thrombin activation: Thrombin is a key enzyme in the clotting process. It converts fibrinogen, a soluble protein in the blood, into fibrin, an insoluble protein.
Fibrin forms a mesh-like structure that stabilizes the platelet plug, creating a blood clot.
Clot retraction and repair: The blood clot contracts, pulling the edges of the damaged vessel closer together. This process helps in wound healing and reducing the size of the damaged area Eventually, the damaged blood vessel is repaired by the growth of new tissue.
Fibrinolysis: After the blood vessel is repaired, the clot is no longer needed. Fibrinolysis is the process by which the clot is broken down and removed. Plasmin, an enzyme, dissolves the fibrin clot, allowing blood flow to return to normal.
Disruptions in the blood clotting process can lead to different medical conditions. Excessive clotting, known as thrombosis, can cause blockages in blood vessels, leading to conditions like deep vein thrombosis (DVT), stroke, or heart attack.
On the other hand, impaired clotting, known as bleeding disorders, can result in prolonged bleeding or excessive bleeding even from minor injuries.
IMPORTANCE OF BLOOD CLOTTING
an important question to answer is that is there any importance to blood clotting. what makes it cloth and the process of its clotting is discussed in this post.
you can rest assured that there are natural meals that help to boost the capacity of the blood to perform blood clotting
One of the methods by which the blood defends the body is by clotting at the site of a wound, thus preventing further loss of blood and the entry of pathogenic organisms at the point of the wound or injury.
When the body sustains an injury in which a blood vessel is cut, blood clotting
the process of blood clotting takes place as follows
:
- Platelet plugs are formed due to exposure of damaged blood vessels to air.
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- The platelets release a chemical which causes involuntary muscles in the walls of the damaged blood vessels to constrict and so reducing blood flow.
In case the damage is so great to be sealed by a plug, the platelets release an enzyme called thrombokinase or thromboplastin.
The thrombokinase converts an inactive prothrombin into an active enzyme called thrombin.
The thrombin in the presence of calcium salt [Ca++ ions] converts fibrinogen into fibrin.
The fibrin forms a mesh of fine threads which traps blood cells forming a clot that covers the wound.
The mesh of fibrin blocks the cut in the blood vessel and prevents further bleeding while the white blood cells entangled in the fibrin mesh prevent the entry of pathogenic organisms like bacteria, viruses and fungi into the body through the wound or injury. blood clotting
The clot dries to form a scab which drops off after a new skin tissue is formed in the injured area. Some people possess blood which is unable to clot. These people suffer from a disease
- called haemophilia. In a haemophilia patient, a small cut may cause the loss of much blood as there is no clot formation to prevent bleeding.
how the antibodies help in blood clotting
The white blood cells are known to destroy bacteria and other germs by either ingesting them or by producing chemicals capable of destroying them or their harmful products.
Such chemicals are called antibodies. The white blood cells that ingest bacteria are called phagocytes while those that secrete antibodies are called lymphocytes.
Different types of lymphocytes that produce different corresponding antibodies exist.
These
types of antibodies
include:
(i) Antitoxins: antitoxins are antibodies which can neutralize the poisons [toxins] produced by bacteria or other pathogens.
(ii) Agglutinins: agglutinins are antibodies which can cause bacteria or other pathogens to stick together so as to reduce their effectiveness.
(iii) Lysins: lysins are antibodies capable of dissolving the outer coats of bacteria or other pathogens and making them disintegrate.
(iv) Precipitins: precipitins are antibodies which can precipitate toxins produced by bacteria or other pathogens.
A particular type of bacteria or pathogen stimulates the formation of a specific antibody. Antibodies are usually produced in excess of the amount needed to destroy the infecting agent or its toxins.
The excess antibodies remain and circulate in the blood for some time [the length of such time varies from one antibody to another] and confers immunity against infection by the particular pathogen.
Antibodies are specific in their action as the antibody formed against one pathogen will not confer immunity against different pathogens.
Immunity created in the body by itself is called natural immunization.
People can protect themselves from certain serious diseases artificially by causing lymphocytes in the body to recognize these antigens. blood clotting
This is done by injecting a small dose of weakened or dead microorganisms into the body. Such protective methods are known as artificial immunization or vaccination.
The major effect of acquired immune deficiency syndrome [aids] is that when the virus causes aids attacks and destroys certain white blood cells in the immune system, the infected person is left without defence when disease-causing micro-organisms invade the body.
As a result, he suffers from all kinds of microbial infections which eventually cause the death of the individual.
