Clot Health Dictionary

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Clot: From 1 Different Sources

The term applied to any semi-solid mass of blood, lymph or other body ?uid. Clotting in the blood is due to the formation of strings of FIBRIN produced by the action of a ferment. Milk clots in a similar manner in the stomach when exposed to the action of the enzyme rennin. Clotting occurs naturally when blood is shed and comes into contact with tissues outside the blood vessels. It occurs also at times in diseased vessels (THROMBOSIS), producing serious effects upon the tissues supplied or drained by these vessels. Clots sometimes form in the heart when the circulation is failing. (See COAGULATION; EMBOLISM.)
Health Source: Medical Dictionary
Author: Health Dictionary

Blood Clot

A blood clot arises when blood comes into contact with a foreign surface – for example, damaged blood vessels – or when tissue factors are released from damaged tissue. An initial plug of PLATELETS is converted to a de?nitive clot by the deposition of FIBRIN, which is formed by the clotting cascade and erythrocytes. (See COAGULATION.)... blood clot

Clotrimazole

A drug of the IMIDAZOLES group used to treat fungal infections of the skin and vagina.... clotrimazole

Clotting Time

See COAGULATION.... clotting time

Blood Clotting

The process of blood solidification. Clotting is important in stemming bleeding from damaged blood vessels. However, unwanted blood clotting can occur inside major blood vessels and cause a myocardial infarction (heart attack) or stroke (see thrombosis).

When a blood vessel is damaged, it constricts immediately to reduce blood flow to the area. The damage sets off a series of chemical reactions that lead to the formation of a clot to seal the injury. First, platelets around the injury site are activated, becoming sticky and adhering to the blood-vessel wall. Then, the activated platelets release chemicals, which, in turn, activate blood clotting factors. These factors, together with vitamin K, act on fibrinogen and convert it to fibrin. Strands of fibrin form a meshwork, which traps red blood cells to form a clot.

There are several anticlotting mechanisms to prevent the formation of unwanted clots. These include prostacyclin (a prostaglandin), which prevents platelet aggregation, and plasmin, which breaks down fibrin (see fibrinolysis). Blood flow washes away active coagulation factors; and the liver deactivates excess coagulation factors.

Defects in blood clotting may result in bleeding disorders.

Excessive clotting (thrombosis) may be due to an inherited increase or defect in a coagulation factor (see factor V), the use of oral contraceptives, a decrease in the level of enzymes that inhibit coagulation, or sluggish blood flow through a particular area.

Treatment is usually with anticoagulant drugs such as heparin or warfarin.... blood clotting

Cloth Of Gold

Understand Animal Languages... cloth of gold

Clotho

(Greek) In mythology, one of the three Fates... clotho

Clotilde

(German) A woman famous in battle

Clotild, Clotilda... clotilde

Blood-clotting Tests

Tests to screen for and diagnose bleeding disorders, usually resulting from deficiencies or abnormalities of blood coagulation factors or of platelets (see blood clotting). Tests are also used to monitor treatment with anticoagulant drugs.... blood-clotting tests

Clotting Factors

see coagulation factors.... clotting factors

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