Final answer:
In hemophilia, patients inherit a deficiency of a specific clotting factor, which varies depending on the type of hemophilia; Hemophilia A is due to the lack of factor VIII, Hemophilia B to the lack of factor IX, and Hemophilia C to the lack of factor XI.
Step-by-step explanation:
In hemophilia, the patient has inherited a lack of a specific clotting factor. There are different types of this condition, with hemophilia A and B being the most common. Hemophilia A involves the deficiency of factor VIII and accounts for approximately 80 percent of cases, while Hemophilia B is due to insufficient factor IX and represents about 20 percent of cases. Another rarer type, Hemophilia C, involves a deficiency in factor XI. These clotting factors are essential for proper blood coagulation, and their absence or dysfunction leads to excessive bleeding.