Extrinsic pathway

Definition

The extrinsic pathway is one of the mechanisms by which the blood clotting process is initiated, specifically triggered by external trauma that causes blood to escape from the vascular system. It involves the activation of factor VII upon contact with tissue factor (TF) released by damaged tissues.

Related terms

Hemostasis:

The physiological process that stops bleeding at the site of an injury, involving blood vessel constriction and formation of a blood clot.

Tissue Factor (TF): A protein found on cell membranes outside the blood vessels that plays a crucial role in initiating the extrinsic pathway of blood coagulation.

Factor VII:

A protein in the blood that, when activated, plays an essential role in initiating the extrinsic pathway for coagulation