Question

In a healthy individual, what must occur before thrombin is produced?

Multiple choice question.

Plasmin must be activated.

Fibrinogen must be converted to fibrin.

Fibrin clot (mesh) must be produced.

Prothrombin must be activated.

Answer 1

Before thrombin is produced, prothrombin must be activated in the coagulation cascade to catalyze the conversion of prothrombin into thrombin, which is the step preceded by the formation of prothrombinase.

Step-by-step explanation:

In a healthy individual, before thrombin is produced, prothrombin must be activated. This activation occurs in the coagulation phase of hemostasis. Initially, when a blood vessel is injured, the coagulation cascade is triggered, leading to the formation of the enzyme prothrombinase. Prothrombinase then catalyzes the conversion of prothrombin, which is an inactive enzyme (also known as factor II), into thrombin. Subsequently, thrombin acts to convert fibrinogen (factor I) into fibrin, creating a mesh-like clot that stabilizes and seals the vessel to prevent further bleeding. This complex process involves the orchestration of multiple clotting factors, mainly through the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways, both leading to the common pathway to produce the necessary blood clot.