Blood clotting

 Astheresclerosis will
-Increase the chance of blood clotting
and
-cause further blockage in the arteries

When artery walls are damaged & a plaque develops

- the blood flows more slowly

-blood platlets touching the artery wall stick together forming a
  PLATELET PLUG

The damaged artery wall and the platelets together release:

THROMBOPLASTIN

THROMBOPLASTIN

-In the presence of calcium ions and Vitamin K in the blood plasma, thromboplastic:
starts a cascade of CHEMICAL CONVERSIONS

1st, causes the conversion of:
PROTHOMBRIN to THROMBRIN(enzyme)

2nd Converts

SOLUBLE FIBRINOGEN to  INSOLUBLE FIBRIN STRANDS

The Platlet Plug & mesh of fibrin strands:

-Trap red & white blood cells

-Forming a clot

- blocking an artery (in addition to any plaques) 

Clotting process is essential at a wound

(when damaged  blood vessel set up the same response to form a clot)

As the clot dries it forms a scab to:

-Prevent excessive blood loss

-invasion of bacteria

(the tissue heals beneath)

BLOOD CLOTTING INSIDE THE BODY AS ARTERIES ARE DAMAGED IS DANGEROUS