Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Leveraging Turbidity and Thromboelastography for Complementary Clot Characterization
06:28

Leveraging Turbidity and Thromboelastography for Complementary Clot Characterization

Published on: June 4, 2020

Heritability of clot formation

Kristina F Standeven1, Shirley Uitte de Willige, Angela M Carter

  • 1Division of Cardiovascular and Diabetes Research, Multidisciplinary Cardiovascular Research Centre, University of Leeds, Leeds LS29JT, United Kingdom.

Seminars in Thrombosis and Hemostasis
|September 10, 2009
PubMed

The development of occlusive arterial and venous disease is contingent on the formation of a fibrin mesh that occurs following tissue damage and activation of the coagulation system. Clinical evidence indicates that fibrin structure and function are important determinants of cardiovascular risk, and the difference between clots formed from plasma and from purified fibrinogen highlights the importance of plasma factors in determining final clot structure. Twin, family, and case-control studies indicate there is a significant genetic contribution to variance in coagulation and fibrinolytic factors that may influence clot structure. Additionally, studies indicate a smaller but significant genetic contribution to fibrin structure, with a larger component provided by the environmental contribution. Future studies of the influence of post-translational modifications to fibrin(ogen) and other factors involved in clot formation may provide important insights into thrombotic disease mechanisms.

More Related Videos

Experimental and Imaging Techniques for Examining Fibrin Clot Structures in Normal and Diseased States07:09

Experimental and Imaging Techniques for Examining Fibrin Clot Structures in Normal and Diseased States

Published on: April 1, 2015

The Nijmegen Hemostasis Assay: Simultaneous Fluorogenic Measurement of Thrombin and Plasmin Generation in a Single Well08:01

The Nijmegen Hemostasis Assay: Simultaneous Fluorogenic Measurement of Thrombin and Plasmin Generation in a Single Well

Published on: February 27, 2026

Related Concept Videos

Clot Retraction and Fibrinolysis01:16

Clot Retraction and Fibrinolysis

After a fibrin clot is formed, the next step is clot retraction, a vital process facilitated by platelet contractile proteins, such as actin and myosin. These proteins pull the fibrin strands closer together and condense the clot. This action reduces the size of the clot, creating a smaller, denser structure that effectively seals off the damaged vessel. Clot retraction consolidates the clot and helps with wound healing by bringing the edges of the damaged blood vessel closer together.
Anticoagulant Drugs: Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins01:30

Anticoagulant Drugs: Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins

Hemostasis is a crucial process that prevents excessive blood loss from damaged blood vessels. It involves various mechanisms such as vasoconstriction, platelet adhesion and activation, and fibrin formation. The importance of each mechanism depends on the type of vessel injury. In contrast, thrombosis is the abnormal formation of a blood clot within the blood vessels, leading to potential complications if the clot obstructs blood flow. Thrombosis can be caused by increased coagulability of the...
Extrinsic and Intrinsic Pathways of Hemostasis01:20

Extrinsic and Intrinsic Pathways of Hemostasis

Blood clotting or coagulation involves extrinsic and intrinsic pathways, which ultimately merge into the common pathway, forming a fibrin clot.
The Extrinsic Pathway
The extrinsic pathway of coagulation is typically initiated by tissue damage that exposes blood to tissue factor (TF), a protein released by the damaged tissue cells outside the blood vessels—this interaction with TF triggers biochemical reactions involving specific clotting factors. The key player here is Factor VII, which forms a...
Disorders of Hemostasis01:24

Disorders of Hemostasis

Hemostasis, the process that stops bleeding after a blood vessel injury, is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the circulatory system. However, disorders of hemostasis can disrupt this delicate balance, leading to either excessive clotting or bleeding. These disorders can be broadly classified into thromboembolic disorders and bleeding disorders.
Thromboembolic Disorders
Two factors primarily cause thromboembolic conditions.
Coagulation01:09

Coagulation

The coagulation phase is a critical part of the body's process to prevent blood loss following injury to blood vessels. It involves chemical reactions that form a clot to seal the injured area. The clotting process begins shortly after injury, within 15-20 seconds for severe damage and 1-2 minutes for minor injuries.
During the coagulation phase, clotting factors, or procoagulants, play a vital role in initiating and progressing the coagulation cascade. This cascade is a series of reactions...
Formation of the Platelet Plug01:22

Formation of the Platelet Plug

The platelet phase, the second stage of hemostasis, commences around 15-20 seconds after an injury. It follows and overlaps with the vascular phase, during which blood vessels constrict to minimize blood loss.
As the injured blood vessel contracts, endothelial cells undergo contraction, revealing collagen fibers in the basement membrane and underlying connective tissue. Furthermore, the plasma membrane of endothelial cells becomes adhesive, preparing the site for platelet adhesion. Platelets...