Coagulation: The coagulation cascade involves the activation

The coagulation cascade involves the activation of a series of clotting factors, the proteins involved in blood clotting. Each clotting factor is a serine protease, an enzyme that speeds up the breakdown of another protein. Key Points The coagulation cascade is a series of reactions, which is classically divided into three pathways: the contact (also known as the intrinsic) pathway, the tissue factor (also known as the extrinsic pathway), and the common pathway. The intrinsic pathway occurs when negatively charged molecule contact causes a cascade of factors that produce factor X. The extrinsic pathway occurs when tissue damage causes the release of tissue factor, creating a smaller cascade that produces factor ... In all mammals, coagulation involves both cellular components (platelets) and proteinaceous components ( coagulation or clotting factors). [2][3] The pathway in humans has been the most extensively researched and is the best understood. [4] Coagulation is the formation of a blood clot, and is essential to haemostasis. Haemostasis is the body’s physiological response to damaged blood vessels, to slow down, minimise and eventually cease the bleeding.