By Madison Williams
Oh no! You’re studying for your biology test tomorrow, and you get a papercut. You grab a bandage and get back to work. Luckily, your test tomorrow is on blood clotting, and you know exactly what’s going on underneath your bandage.
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Blood clotting, also known as coagulation, occurs when a blood vessel has been damaged, including the small vessels damaged in a paper cut! This process is necessary to stop the bleeding and repair the damage. Without this repair mechanism, even the smallest cut or injury could lead to uncontrolled bleeding.
Upon injury, platelets rush to the damaged site in the vessel and become sticky, thanks to the Von Willebrand factor produced by the vessel wall. Two proteins called collagen and thrombin, allow the platelets to stick to each other, forming what’s called a “platelet plug.” Another protein called fibrin makes up long, sticky strands that protrude from the platelets and catch other platelets and red blood cells to build up the blood clot. This is to help the platelet and protein cluster stay together and keep the vessel wall plugged to prevent excessive bleeding.
Sometimes, people’s bodies have problems with blood clotting, which can cause a clotting disorder. Some people also have risk factors for dangerous blood clotting processes, such as heart failure and obesity. One example of a clotting disorder is Von Willebrand disease. When someone has this disease, their body is not producing enough Von Willebrand factor, and they have problems forming blood clots. Many people with this disorder don’t even know they have it, but abnormal bleeding is the most common symptom. Other symptoms include blood in urine or stool, easily bruising, irregular menstrual bleeding, and prolonged nosebleeds. A physician can perform blood tests to diagnose patients with this disease. Treatment typically includes a medication to improve blood clotting, and patients can still live normal lives.
Now that you have reviewed your notes on blood clotting, you can get an “A” on your test! Happy studying!
