Which among the following is responsible for the clotting of the blood?
Which among the following is responsible for the clotting of the blood?
(a) Erythrocytes
(b) Platelets
(c) Basophils
(d) White Blood Cells
Platelets, or thrombocytes, are the primary actors that initiate clotting. The clotting, or coagulation, process is a complex of steps that revolves around a few fundamental components:
- Platelets: Platelets are small cell fragments that respond to a bleeding vessel by sticking together to create a temporary platelet plug.
- Clotting factors: These include proteins such as fibrinogen and prothrombin. Thrombin, which is an enzyme, is used to transform fibrinogen into insoluble fibrin threads that provide clotting support.
- Vitamin K: Vitamin K is an essential nutrient that allows the liver to produce some of the clotting factors that are required.
- Calcium ions: These ions act as an essential cofactor.