Tag: coagulation of blood

Heparin is a natural anticoagulant produced in the liver and helps in checking the clotting of blood inside blood vessels. 

Blood clotting (coagulation) is the process by which blood vessels repair ruptures after injury. Calcium works together with vitamin K and a protein, called as fibrinogen in the clotting cascade, which forms fibrin. The fibrin hardens very quickly to form a scab over the wound. 

Prothrombin is a plasma protein which is converted into thrombin in the presence of thromboplastin released by platelets at the site of injury. The thrombin then converts protein fibrinogen into insoluble fibrin and thus aids in blood clotting. 

Coagulation (also known as clotting) is the process by which blood changes from a liquid to a gel, forming a clot. The activation of some of the enzymes in the coagulation cascade is dependent on vitamin K. In the presence of other plasma proteins (clotting factors) and calcium ions, this leads to the activation of a protein called as factor X. 

Vitamin K plays an important role in blood clotting. It is required by the body for the synthesis of prothrombin by the liver. Prothrombin is a plasma protein which gets converted into thrombin during the clotting process and thus helps in clotting mechanism. Thus, the correct answer is option B. 

Sodium oxalate (like citrates) can be used to remove calcium ions (Ca$^{2+}$) from the blood plasma. The oxalate prevents clotting by forming insoluble calcium salts, thus removing ionic calcium (or cations).
Therefore, the correct answer is option A.

Prothrombin is a plasma glycoprotein produced in the liver. It gets converted into thrombin by a clotting factor prothrombinase which further transforms fibrinogen into fibrin which combines with platelets to form clot. 

Blood clotting factors are needed for blood to clot (coagulation). Prothrombin, or factor II, is one of the clotting factors made by the liver. Vitamin K is needed to make prothrombin and other clotting factors. So, blood does not clot in the absence of Vitamin K because it is essential for the synthesis of prothrombin and not because it is an essential component of the clot, platelets or essential for fibrinogen. 

Platelets are tiny components in blood that initiate blood clots by releasing thromboplastin at the site of injury. Thromboplastin initiates the process of blood clotting. Thus, the correct answer is option C.

Heparin is a natural anticoagulant of the body produced in the liver. It is normally found circulating through the bloodstream. It prevents the blood clotting in veins and arteries during normal circulation.