The Body Explained/X
Sep 6, 2025, 13:48
The Body Explained on Blood Clotting Pathways
The Body Explained shared an insightful post on X:
“Blood clotting is life’s emergency repair system
When a vessel is injured, exposed endothelium and collagen trigger platelets and clotting factors.
The cascade has 2 arms: intrinsic (contact activation) and extrinsic (tissue factor). Both converge at the common pathway to form fibrin.
- Intrinsic pathway: Factors XII → XI → IX → VIII. This is activated by collagen and negatively charged surfaces inside vessel.
- Extrinsic pathway: Factor VII + tissue factor (III) released from damaged endothelial cells.
Both activate Factor X, launching the common pathway.
- Factor X + V → Prothrombin (II) → Thrombin
- Thrombin converts Fibrinogen (I) → Fibrin mesh
- Cross-linked by Factor XIII for clot stability.
Balance is vital:
Too little = bleeding (e.g., hemophilia, factor deficiencies)
Too much = thrombosis (MI, stroke, DVT)”

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