In order to understand the nature of bleeding disorders, it is first important to understand the physiological process of blood coagulation, or the coagulation cascade.
The coagulation cascade is a vital function of the human body. This complex process requires the coordinated interaction between endothelial cells, platelets, coagulation factors and other plasma proteins. This process leads to well-ordered activation and degradation of blood clotting factors to retain the integrity of the blood vessel system and promote healing.
The coagulation cascade has been described as taking place in four key phases: initiation, amplification, propagation and stabilization.
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Last Updated:
5/28/2010 7:13 PM