Question

One element fo the coagulation cascade is the common pathway, during which:

A. Tissue damage causes platelet aggregation and the formation of prothrombin activator
B. The prothrombin activator, in the presence of calcium, converts prothrombin
C. Platelets release substances that lead to the formation of prothrombin activator
D. Thrombin, in the presence of calcium, converts fibrinogen to stable fibrin, which then traps blood cells and more platelets to form a clot.

Answer 1

In the coagulation cascade's common pathway, thrombin transforms fibrinogen into fibrin to create a stable clot, a step essential for stopping blood loss after vessel damage.

Step-by-step explanation:

One element of the coagulation cascade is the common pathway, during which thrombin, in the presence of calcium, converts fibrinogen to stable fibrin. This fibrin then traps blood cells and more platelets to form a blood clot. Both the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways lead to this common pathway. Factor X, once activated, leads to the conversion of prothrombin (factor II) to thrombin by the enzyme prothrombinase. Thrombin then converts fibrinogen (factor I) into insoluble fibrin strands, which form the structural basis of a clot. Factor XIII stabilizes the fibrin clot, ensuring that the clot is durable enough to seal the vessel and prevent further blood loss.