1. Blood Clotting Assignment
Answers…

2. 1) Roles of the clotting components
Platelets:
Form a plug at the site of injury to slow bleeding.
Prothrombin:
- Gets converted into an active protein called “thrombin”.

3. 1) Continued… Calcium ions (Ca2+):
Used to help turn prothrombin into thrombin
Also used, later, to help turn fibrinogen into fibrin.
Thrombin:
- Acts to start forming the clot by turning fibrinogen into fibrin.

4. 1) Continued… Fibrinogen: Gets converted into fibrin (by thrombin).
Forms a network of threads that closes off the injury.
Plasmin:
- Breaks down the clot once the damage has healed.

5. 2) Which components are in a clot?
The clot will end up being made up of platelets and fibrin.

6. 3) Why do clots appear red?
Clots often trap some red blood cells (erythrocytes), giving them a red colour.

7. 4) Summarize the clotting process