Hemostasis Research Paper
Blood
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School Name Here
Abstract
This essay examines hemostasis and the mechanisms that allow the human organism to achieve hemostasis. It also outlines blood typing and adverse reactions that can occur between fetal and maternal tissue.
Blood
The lesson plan from this week is about blood. Blood has several life enabling functions, such as its ability to stop bleeding in circumstances of a broken blood vessel. One may not think of blood as being delicate, but upon further examination the introduction of different blood types can be and is life threatening. This can also be a problem for expecting mothers and fetus. Hemostasis can be defined as the stoppage of bleeding. Therefore, when you cut yourself and the bleeding naturally stops itself hemostasis has occurred. That being said, there are three primary mechanisms the human …show more content…
organism utilizes to enable hemostasis. One such mechanism is blood vessel spasm. This mechanism is defined by hemostasis occurring due to the smooth muscle within the blood vessel contracting and the release of serotonin which inspires and helps to maintain vasoconstriction (Shier, 2013). Another mechanism is called platelet plug formation. This occurs when the broken blood vessel clots by way of platelets accumulating and binding together. The plug forms when the platelets stick to damaged endothelium. This process is further extended by the platelets releasing factors that incite additional platelets (“Platelet plug,” n.d.). Lastly hemostasis can take place by way of blood coagulation. Coagulation can occur by extrinsic or intrinsic mechanisms. The major differences between the two mechanisms are the way the mechanisms are triggered. The extrinsic clotting mechanism is triggered when there is injury or damage to the blood vessel; whereas the intrinsic clotting mechanism is triggered by the blood coming in contact with a foreign surface (Shier, 2013). The human organism also contains mechanisms to prevent coagulation. This is important because improper or inappropriate coagulation of blood can result in tissue infarction. One such mechanism preventing coagulation is the way that our blood vessels are composed of a smooth inner lining which keep blood circulating and helps to prevent coagulation. The cells that compose this lining release a compound called prostacyclin. Prostacyclin impedes the ability of platelets to bind to the vessel lining. Other mechanisms include the production of heparin, which is an anticoagulant. Once a clot forms the help of a protein called fibrin inhibits the clot from increasing. Blood transfusions are more complex than what first meets the eye.
Interestingly enough everyone’s blood is not the same and consists of different antigens. Because of this, it is vital that a person receiving a blood transfusion receives the correct blood type. The results of receiving the incorrect blood type can be fatal. In fact, prior to our understanding of blood typing several people died from blood transfusions at such an alarming rate that blood transfusions were banned in many countries. There are two main groups of blood typing. The first is the ABO group consisting of the four main blood types which are defined by A, B, AB, and O. The second group is the Rh group which contains two types, Rh positive and Rh negative. Because of antigens and antibodies it is important that the recipient blood and donor blood have testing done to be sure that they match. The result of an improper match during a transfusion is called agglutination which means the red blood cells clump together causing an adverse reaction (Shier,
2013). When a woman discovers that she is pregnant and begins prenatal care with a physician one of the first things to be done is to take a blood sample. Out of this blood sample the woman’s blood is tested for the Rh antigen. If the Rh antigen is present, she is deemed Rh positive. If not, than she is Rh negative. This is an important thing to know about a pregnant woman because if the maternal blood and the fetal blood do not have the same Rh antigen test result there can be an adverse reaction called erythroblastosis fetalis. Today this condition has become quite uncommon due to our ability to successfully blood type, and the development of a drug called RhoGAM. This drug is given to women whose Rh antigens do not match those of their unborn fetus.
References
Shier, D., Butler, J., Lewis, R. (2013). Hole’s human anatomy & physiology (13th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill
Platelet Plug Formation. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.boundless.com/physiology/textbooks/boundless-anatomy-and-physiology-textbook/blood-17/hemostasis-168/platelet-plug-formation-838-1670/
Name Here
School Name Here
Abstract
This essay examines hemostasis and the mechanisms that allow the human organism to achieve hemostasis. It also outlines blood typing and adverse reactions that can occur between fetal and maternal tissue.
Blood
The lesson plan from this week is about blood. Blood has several life enabling functions, such as its ability to stop bleeding in circumstances of a broken blood vessel. One may not think of blood as being delicate, but upon further examination the introduction of different blood types can be and is life threatening. This can also be a problem for expecting mothers and fetus. Hemostasis can be defined as the stoppage of bleeding. Therefore, when you cut yourself and the bleeding naturally stops itself hemostasis has occurred. That being said, there are three primary mechanisms the human …show more content…
organism utilizes to enable hemostasis. One such mechanism is blood vessel spasm. This mechanism is defined by hemostasis occurring due to the smooth muscle within the blood vessel contracting and the release of serotonin which inspires and helps to maintain vasoconstriction (Shier, 2013). Another mechanism is called platelet plug formation. This occurs when the broken blood vessel clots by way of platelets accumulating and binding together. The plug forms when the platelets stick to damaged endothelium. This process is further extended by the platelets releasing factors that incite additional platelets (“Platelet plug,” n.d.). Lastly hemostasis can take place by way of blood coagulation. Coagulation can occur by extrinsic or intrinsic mechanisms. The major differences between the two mechanisms are the way the mechanisms are triggered. The extrinsic clotting mechanism is triggered when there is injury or damage to the blood vessel; whereas the intrinsic clotting mechanism is triggered by the blood coming in contact with a foreign surface (Shier, 2013). The human organism also contains mechanisms to prevent coagulation. This is important because improper or inappropriate coagulation of blood can result in tissue infarction. One such mechanism preventing coagulation is the way that our blood vessels are composed of a smooth inner lining which keep blood circulating and helps to prevent coagulation. The cells that compose this lining release a compound called prostacyclin. Prostacyclin impedes the ability of platelets to bind to the vessel lining. Other mechanisms include the production of heparin, which is an anticoagulant. Once a clot forms the help of a protein called fibrin inhibits the clot from increasing. Blood transfusions are more complex than what first meets the eye.
Interestingly enough everyone’s blood is not the same and consists of different antigens. Because of this, it is vital that a person receiving a blood transfusion receives the correct blood type. The results of receiving the incorrect blood type can be fatal. In fact, prior to our understanding of blood typing several people died from blood transfusions at such an alarming rate that blood transfusions were banned in many countries. There are two main groups of blood typing. The first is the ABO group consisting of the four main blood types which are defined by A, B, AB, and O. The second group is the Rh group which contains two types, Rh positive and Rh negative. Because of antigens and antibodies it is important that the recipient blood and donor blood have testing done to be sure that they match. The result of an improper match during a transfusion is called agglutination which means the red blood cells clump together causing an adverse reaction (Shier,
2013). When a woman discovers that she is pregnant and begins prenatal care with a physician one of the first things to be done is to take a blood sample. Out of this blood sample the woman’s blood is tested for the Rh antigen. If the Rh antigen is present, she is deemed Rh positive. If not, than she is Rh negative. This is an important thing to know about a pregnant woman because if the maternal blood and the fetal blood do not have the same Rh antigen test result there can be an adverse reaction called erythroblastosis fetalis. Today this condition has become quite uncommon due to our ability to successfully blood type, and the development of a drug called RhoGAM. This drug is given to women whose Rh antigens do not match those of their unborn fetus.
References
Shier, D., Butler, J., Lewis, R. (2013). Hole’s human anatomy & physiology (13th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill
Platelet Plug Formation. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.boundless.com/physiology/textbooks/boundless-anatomy-and-physiology-textbook/blood-17/hemostasis-168/platelet-plug-formation-838-1670/