Von willebrand factor
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Von Willebrand Factor (vWF) is a blood plasma protein that is critical for platelet adhesion. It is named after the Finnish physician Erik von Willebrand, who first described the condition Von Willebrand Disease.
Pronunciation
The term is pronounced as "von vil-uh-brand".
Etymology
The term is named after Erik von Willebrand, a Finnish physician who first described the condition Von Willebrand Disease in 1926.
Function
vWF is a glycoprotein that is necessary for the adhesion of platelets to the site of a wound, initiating the process of blood clotting. In the absence of vWF, platelets cannot adhere to the blood vessel wall, resulting in continued bleeding.
Related Terms
- Von Willebrand Disease: A genetic disorder caused by missing or defective vWF, a clotting protein.
- Platelets: Tiny blood cells that help your body form clots to stop bleeding.
- Blood clotting: The process by which your blood changes from a liquid to a gel, forming a blood clot.
- Glycoprotein: Any of a class of proteins that have carbohydrate groups attached to the polypeptide chain.
See Also
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