OSMT (Ontario Society of Medical Technologists) Practice Exam

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What forms a blood clot?

Thrombin
Fibrinogen
Fibrin
Prothrombin activator

The correct answer is: Fibrin

Fibrin is indeed the essential protein that forms the meshwork of a blood clot. When a blood vessel is injured, the coagulation cascade is activated. Thrombin, a key enzyme in this process, converts fibrinogen, which is soluble and circulates in the blood, into fibrin, an insoluble protein. The fibrin strands aggregate and weave through the platelets and other cells at the injury site, creating a stable structure that effectively halts bleeding. While thrombin and prothrombin activator play crucial roles in the clotting cascade, they are not the components that directly form the physical clot. Thrombin acts on fibrinogen to produce fibrin, and prothrombin activator initiates the series of reactions leading to thrombin's formation. However, it is the fibrin itself that is critical for the structural integrity of the clot, making it the primary substance that forms the blood clot.