Anticoagulant

Definition

An anticoagulant is a substance that prevents blood from clotting, thereby maintaining its fluidity within the vascular system. It works by inhibiting the coagulation cascade, which is essential for the formation of blood clots.

Related terms

Coagulation:

The process by which blood changes from a liquid to a gel, forming a clot.

Thrombus: A solid mass or clot formed within the bloodstream or chambers of the heart from coagulated blood components.

Hemostasis:

A physiological process that stops bleeding at the site of an injury while maintaining blood in a fluid state within the vascular system