Hemostasis: Understanding Blood Coagulation and Related Disorders

HEMOSTASIS

HEMO

· Hemo equals blood

STASIS

· stasis equals stoppage of flow of bodily fluids

HEMOSTASIS

· Hemostasis equals stopping blood from exiting the bloodstream

- Process by which blood clots are formed at the site of injury

· If hemostasis is deranged, broadly classified in two groups of disorders:

One. Hemorrhagic disorders: characterized by excessive bleeding. Hemostatic mechanisms are blunted or insufficient to prevent blood loss.

- i.e. Hemophilia or factor deficiencies in blood clotting where there are insufficient mechanisms

Two. Thrombotic disorders: Blood clots form within intact blood vessels or within the chambers of the heart.

- I.e. pulmonary embolism and myocardial infarction

· Sometimes division between bleeding and thrombotic disorders are not so clear cut

- I.e. generalized activation of clotting sometimes paradoxically produces bleeding due to consumption of coagulation factors (Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation)

that regulate or control vasoconstriction and vasodilation.

- Serves to slow down the blood to prevent blood loss.

- Temporary; if there is no platelet plug formation, it will go back and blood will be lost