BRAINCAKEThrombosis
Thrombosis is the formation of a blood clot, called a thrombus, inside an intact blood vessel. Normally blood only clots where a vessel has been damaged and is open to the outside. A thrombus inside a vessel can block the flow of blood.
How a thrombus forms in an artery. An atheroma can grow and break through the endothelium, leaving a rough surface and exposing the collagen and damaged tissue underneath. Platelets stick to the exposed area, and the clotting cascade is triggered. A mesh of fibrin forms, trapping red blood cells and platelets, and a thrombus builds up on the plaque. This narrows the artery further and may block it completely.
Sign in free to see the rest of this lesson, the R.E.C.I.P.E. recall steps and the quiz
BrainCake is free. Make an account in seconds and pick up where this page stops.
More in Cardiovascular Diseases
All 20 lessons in Cardiovascular Diseases · All Edexcel AS-level Biology topics