tissue factor
biochemistry
Also known as: tissue thromboplastin
Quick Summary
the blood coagulation cascade
Figure 1: The blood coagulation cascade. Each protein circulates in the blood in an active form.
Tissue factor is a protein found in cells outside of blood vessels that initiates the extrinsic pathway of blood coagulation. When a blood vessel is injured, tissue factor comes into contact with blood and activates factor VII, which then triggers a cascade of reactions leading to the rapid production of factor X. This is the beginning of the common pathway of coagulation, which ultimately results in the formation of a fibrin clot. This process is crucial for hemostasis, the prevention of excessive bleeding.12
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