What is described as the final stage of the clotting process?

What is described as the final stage of the clotting process?

• A. Clot begins to contract until edges of disrupted blood vessel are pulled together
• B. Clot dissolves
• C. Fibrin threads form
• D. Platelets are exhausted

Answer: (A)

Clot retraction, or contraction, is the final stage. After the fibrin mesh forms to stabilize the clot, platelets tighten the clot by pulling on the fibrin strands, which pulls the edges of the damaged vessel together. This reduces the clot size, helps seal the wound, and promotes healing. The formation of fibrin threads happens earlier in the coagulation process, and clot dissolution (fibrinolysis) occurs later as the body removes the clot. So the described final step is the clot’s contraction.

Clot retraction, or contraction, is the final stage. After the fibrin mesh forms to stabilize the clot, platelets tighten the clot by pulling on the fibrin strands, which pulls the edges of the damaged vessel together. This reduces the clot size, helps seal the wound, and promotes healing. The formation of fibrin threads happens earlier in the coagulation process, and clot dissolution (fibrinolysis) occurs later as the body removes the clot. So the described final step is the clot’s contraction.