Question

Which of the following represents a difference between extrinsic and intrinsic blood clotting cascades?

1) One is faster than the other.
2) One is triggered by tissue damage while the other cannot be triggered by tissue damage.
3) One leads to the production of prothrombin activator and the other does not.
4) Cannot be determined.

Answer 1

The extrinsic and intrinsic blood clotting cascades differ in their triggers and speed, with the extrinsic activated by tissue damage and being faster, while the intrinsic is activated by internal damage or contact with certain surfaces, leading to a common pathway producing fibrin clots.

Step-by-step explanation:

The difference between the extrinsic and intrinsic blood clotting cascades lies in their activation triggers and the speed at which they operate. The extrinsic pathway is faster and is initiated by external trauma that causes tissue damage, resulting in the release of tissue factor (factor III or thromboplastin) from damaged cells. In contrast, the intrinsic pathway is slower and can be activated by internal vessel wall damage or when blood components come into contact with negatively charged surfaces, leading to the activation of factor XII (Hageman factor).

Both pathways eventually converge at the common pathway, where factor X is activated, leading to the conversion of prothrombin to thrombin, and finally, the transformation of fibrinogen to fibrin to form a stable clot.