Coagulation final common pathway

Figure 51-1. The pathways of blood coagulation. The intrinsic and extrinsic pathways are indicated. The events depicted below factor Xa are designated the final common pathway, culminating in the formation of cross-linked fibrin. New observations (dotted arrow) include the finding that complexes of tissue factor and factor Vila activate not only factor X (in the classic extrinsic pathway) but also factor IX in the intrinsic pathway, in addition, thrombin and factor Xa feedback-activate at the two sites indicated (dashed arrows). (PK, prekallikrein HK, HMW kininogen PL, phospholipids.) (Reproduced, with permission, from Roberts HR, Lozier JN New perspectives on the coagulation cascade. Hosp Pract [Off Ed] 1992Jan 27 97.)...

An overview of the coagulation cascade and sites of action for coumarins and heparin is shown in A. There are two ways to initiate the cascade (B) 1) conversion of factor XII into its active form (Xlla, intrinsic system) at intravascular sites denuded of endothelium 2) conversion of factor VII into Vila (extrinsic system) under the influence of a tissue-derived lipoprotein (tissue thromboplastin). Both mechanisms converge via factor X into a common final pathway. 

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