Final answer:
Factor VII has the shortest half-life among coagulation factors. It is quickly activated in the extrinsic pathway of the clotting cascade and has a rapid turnover rate in the body.
Step-by-step explanation:
Among the coagulation factors, Factor VII has the shortest half-life. Coagulation factors are essential for proper blood clot formation and each has a different role within the clotting cascade. The liver produces several coagulation factors, including Factor II (Prothrombin), Factor V, Factor VII, and Factor IX. Factor VII, also known as proconvention, is quickly activated by tissue factor (Factor III) and is involved in the extrinsic pathway of the clotting cascade, leading to the activation of Factor X (Stuart-Prower factor) and thereby the common pathway. Its rapid action is facilitated by a shorter half-life relative to other clotting factors, meaning it is broken down and cleared from the body more quickly.