What is meant by clotting of blood? Write a flow chart showing major events taking place in the clotting of blood.

Clotting of blood:

1. Coagulation, or blood clotting, is a physiological process in our bodies.
2. It prevents excessive bleeding.
3. Platelets and clotting factors work together to seal the site of the injury.
4. The clot will dissolve after the damage heals.

Steps in the blood clotting process:

1. The clotting process occurs in multiple steps.
2. When a blood vessel is injured, platelets become activated.
3. They adhere to the surrounding walls of blood capillaries.
4. Platelets alter their shape to form a plug.
5. The plug fills the injury and prevents blood flow.
6. Clotting factors get activated to accompany the clotting process.
7. They send out signals to one another, triggering a chain of events.
8. In the presence of calcium ions, thromboplastin converts inactive prothrombin into active prothrombin.
9. This also activates fibrinogen.
10. The fibrinogen then converts to fibrin.
11. On the site of injury, fibrin and platelets create a clot.
12. Other proteins prevent the spreading of clots to the surrounding area.
13. As the damaged tissue heals, the body no longer requires the clot.
14. While the damaged tissues heal, the clot will dissolve naturally in the body.
15. The fibrin strands break down.
16. The blood returns the clot's platelets and cells.