The liver is responsible for producing most clotting factors. Which of the following best describes the role of these clotting factors when a blood vessel is damaged? A) When a vessel ruptures, clotting factors become activated, allowing the conversion of soluble fibrinogen to insoluble fibrin. B) When a vessel ruptures, clotting factors are released from the liver, locate the injury site, and then bind to help prevent further blood loss. C) Platelets are produced in the bone marrow, not the liver, and contain clotting factors. When a vessel ruptures, platelets release these factors to stop blood loss. D) When a vessel ruptures, clotting factors do not stimulate vascular spasms; instead, they initiate a cascade of reactions leading to blood clot formation to decrease blood loss from the injury site.

The role of clotting factors when a blood vessel is damaged is best described by: A) When a vessel ruptures, clotting factors become activated, allowing the conversion of soluble fibrinogen to insoluble fibrin.

Explanation:

• Clotting factors are proteins produced by the liver and are essential components of the blood clotting process (coagulation cascade).
• When a blood vessel is damaged, a series of reactions involving clotting factors is initiated. These factors become activated in a sequential manner, leading to the conversion of soluble fibrinogen (present in the blood) into insoluble fibrin strands.
• The formation of fibrin threads helps in the formation of a mesh-like structure that traps blood cells, creating a blood clot or thrombus at the site of injury, which helps stop bleeding and aids in the repair process.
• This process involving the activation and interaction of various clotting factors is known as the coagulation cascade, which ultimately leads to the formation of a stable blood clot to prevent excessive bleeding from the damaged blood vessel.