coagulation factor
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun A substance present in blood plasma that is essential for the normal clotting of blood. These factors are proteins that interact in a complex series of chemical reactions (the coagulation cascade) to form a fibrin clot, which stops bleeding.
Usage and Examples
Noun * A deficiency in a specific coagulation factor, such as Factor VIII, can lead to a bleeding disorder like hemophilia. * The laboratory test measures the activity of various coagulation factors in the patient's blood. * Vitamin K is necessary for the liver to synthesize several important coagulation factors.
Advanced Usage
- Coagulation factor is often used with a Roman numeral to specify a particular factor (e.g., Coagulation Factor IX). These are standardized international designations.
- The term is central in hematology and discussions of hemostasis (the process of stopping bleeding).
Variants and Related Words
- Clotting factor: A common synonym for coagulation factor.
- Factor [Roman Numeral]: The standard abbreviated form (e.g., Factor V, Factor XIII).
- Procoagulant: A broader term for any substance that promotes coagulation, which includes coagulation factors.
Synonyms
- Clotting factor
- Blood-clotting factor
Related Phrases and Terms
- Coagulation cascade: The sequential process by which coagulation factors are activated to form a clot.
- Factor deficiency: A medical condition characterized by a lack of a specific coagulation factor.
- Recombinant coagulation factor: A genetically engineered version of a clotting factor, used in therapy.
Noun
- any of the factors in the blood whose actions are essential for blood coagulation