hemostasis

Examples of hemostasis in the following topics:

• Vascular Spasm

  • During hemostasis, a brief spasm of vasoconstriction occurs, which slows blood flow into the injured area while the clot forms.
  • If the vessels are medium to large-sized, the spasms slow down immediate outflow of blood, lessening the damage but still preparing the vessel for the later steps of hemostasis.
  • During inflammation, vasodilation occur, along with increased vascular permeability and leukocyte chemotaxis, ending the spasm of vasoconstriction and hemostasis as wound healing begins.

• Overview of Hemostasis

  • Hemostasis is the natural process that stops blood loss when an injury occurs.
  • Hemostasis is the natural process in which blood flow slows and a clot forms to prevent blood loss during an injury, with hemo- meaning blood, and stasis meaning stopping.
  • During hemostasis, blood changes from a fluid liquid to a gelatinous state.
  • The vasoconstriction that occurs during hemostasis is a brief reflexive contraction that causes a decrease in blood flow to the area.
  • If the platelet plug is not enough to stop the bleeding, the third stage of hemostasis begins: the formation of a blood clot.

• Coagulation

  • The role of the cellular and protein components can be categorized as primary hemostasis (the platelet plug) and secondary hemostasis (the coagulation cascade).
  • Hemostasis can either be primary or secondary.
  • Primary hemostasis refers to platelet plug formation, which forms the primary clot.
  • Secondary hemostasis occurs simultaneously with primary hemostasis, but generally finishes after it.
  • While the coagulation cascade is critical for hemostasis and wound healing, it can also cause problems.

• Hemostasis Disorders

  • Differentiate among the hemostasis disorders of Von Willebran disease, hemophilia, and factor V Leiden thrombophilia

• Platelets

  • Platelets circulate in blood plasma and are primarily involved in hemostasis (stopping the flow of blood during injury), by causing the formation of blood clots, also known as coagulation.

• Platelet Plug Formation

  • The second critical step in hemostasis, which follows vasoconstriction, is platelet plug formation.

• Fibrinolysis

  • Fibrinolysis is a process that removes clots following hemostasis and clot retraction, preventing uncontrolled thrombosis and embolism.

• Clot Retraction and Repair

  • The blood clots produced in hemostasis are merely the first step in repair and healing that occur after injury.

• Role of Vitamin K