An Introduction to the Fundamentals of Coagulation: Overview of Secondary Hemostasis

Secondary Hemostasis – The Intrinsic Pathway

  • Exposure to contact substances, such as collagen, can activate the intrinsic pathway.

  • The exposed collagen is the location where a complex between High Molecular Weight Kininogen (HMWK), Prekallikrein (also known as Fletcher Factor, which activates to Kallikrein), and factor XII (Hageman Factor) forms.

  • Together, this three biochemical complex, adhered to the collagen binding site, catalyzes the conversion of factor XII to its activated form, XIIa, thereby triggering the intrinsic pathway.

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