Fibrinolysis
Fibrinolysis
Fibrinolysis (pronounced: fy-brin-ol-uh-sis) is a process in the human body that prevents blood clots from growing and becoming problematic. This process is characterized by the continuous breakdown of the fibrin in blood clots.
Etymology
The term "Fibrinolysis" is derived from the Latin word "fibrina", which means "fibrin", and the Greek word "lysis", which means "loosening" or "dissolving".
Process
Fibrinolysis is initiated by the enzyme plasmin, which is produced in an inactive form, plasminogen, in the liver. When a blood clot forms, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and urokinase (uPA) are released, converting plasminogen into plasmin. Plasmin then breaks down the fibrin mesh that holds the clot together, effectively dissolving the clot.
Related Terms
- Blood clot: A clump of blood that has changed from a liquid to a gel-like or semisolid state.
- Plasmin: An important enzyme present in blood that degrades many blood plasma proteins, most notably, fibrin clots.
- Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA): A protein involved in the breakdown of blood clots.
- Urokinase (uPA): An enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of plasminogen to plasmin, the major enzyme responsible for clot breakdown.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Fibrinolysis
- Wikipedia's article - Fibrinolysis
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