What Does Coagulation Mean?
Coagulation is a process of forming a blood clot to prevent excessive blood loss from a ruptured vessel. When a blood vessel is ruptured, it leads to the formation of elongated, sticky fibers called fibrin. These make a lattice which traps the blood cells and the platelets. The latticework soon contracts to form an elastic clot that can resist the blood flow. Coagulation or blood clot helps in stopping hemorrhage and repairs the blood vessel. In a normal healthy individual, coagulation can take place within 20 seconds of the injury to the blood vessel causing harm to the endothelial cells.(the single layer of flat cells which lines the inside of body cavities). In other words, the change of blood state from liquid to solid is called as coagulation. Whenever a solid mass is separated from liquid, it is said to be coagulated. For example, the casein in milk is curdled (read coagulated) by adding citric acid or acetic acid.
