Final answer:
Hemostasis is the process to stop bleeding, starting with vessel spasm, formation of a platelet plug, and culminating in coagulation, which solidifies the plug into a stable fibrin blood clot.
Step-by-step explanation:
​Hemostasis is the physiological process by which bleeding ceases, and is often considered in response to the question about the stoppage of bleeding and coagulation factors. The first phase of hemostasis is the formation of a vessel spasm, followed by the creation of a platelet plug, and finally, coagulation. Coagulation involves the transformation of the plasma protein fibrinogen into fibrin, which weaves into a mesh that stabilizes the platelet plug and forms a durable blood clot to ensure the wound can properly heal.
The coagulation process can be seen as a cascade where each step triggers the next one. It is a crucial mechanism for preventing excessive blood loss and enabling the repair of the injured vessel wall. Key to this process is the common pathway, which can be initiated by either the intrinsic or extrinsic pathways, resulting in the formation of a blood clot.
In the context of the provided information, after initial clot formation to stop bleeding due to a skin injury, the following step is the further buildup and strengthening of that clot through coagulation. This will ensure that temporary sealing by the platelet plug is converted into a more permanent repair via the sturdy fibrin meshwork, securing the cessation of blood leakage and contributing to tissue healing.