Two Blood Coagulation Pathway

In higher vertebrates, such as amphibians and mammals, two blood coagulation pathways exist which both trigger the activation of thrombin through enzymatic cascades: an extrinsic tissue factor pathway, initiated mainly by internal or external trauma, and an intrinsic contact activation pathway, which is employed to repair minor external damage and injures. The binding of tissue factor (TF) to activated factor VII (FVIIa) is essential in the commencement of the coagulation cascade, as it serves as the initiator in the activation of other sequential proteins, such as factors X (FXa) and V (FVa), leading to the conversion of prothrombin to thrombin, which ultimately facilitates the conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin, allowing the clumping of platelets and the formation of blood clots. …show more content…
The body must readily utilize platelets to form clots, but must also be able to readily dissolve them when they are no longer needed. The regulation of this system is essential to the survival and overall health of all higher vertebrate, as any malfunctions in this cascade could cause serious health implications, some of which include strokes, heart attacks, or even death. Overall, the goal of this seminar presentation aims to explore the various factors involved in the body’s hemostatic response to injury, as well as their individual roles within the overall coagulation cascade, the conditions that must be met to trigger the cascade, as well as to provide data which supports the regulation of this pathway by specific