MBBS · Physiology

Blood and hemostasis

Blood transports respiratory gases, nutrients and signals while supporting immune surveillance and limiting bleeding. Hemostasis relies on coordinated vessels, platelets and soluble proteins.

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Blood and hemostasis — learning map

Original conceptual SVG · scalable
LABELED RELATIONSHIP MAP · SCHEMATIC, NOT TO SCALEPlasma and cellstransport and defensePrimary hemostasisplatelet plugSecondary hemostasisfibrin formationFibrinolysis and controllimit the clotBlood and hemostasisKEY RELATIONSHIPS

Original schematic relationship map for this topic; relationships are organized for study, not intended as an anatomical depiction or a diagnostic algorithm.

Concept 01

Plasma and cells

Plasma contains water, electrolytes and proteins; erythrocytes carry hemoglobin, leukocytes participate in immunity and platelets assist clot formation.

Concept 02

Primary hemostasis

Vascular injury exposes adhesive substrates; platelets adhere, activate and aggregate to form an initial hemostatic plug.

Concept 03

Secondary hemostasis

Coagulation reactions generate thrombin, which converts fibrinogen to fibrin and reinforces the developing clot.

Concept 04

Fibrinolysis and control

Anticoagulant pathways and plasmin-mediated fibrin degradation help confine the response to the injured region and restore patency.

Education / safety note: A simplified cascade cannot identify a bleeding or clotting disorder; assessment requires history, examination and context-specific laboratory tests.

Reference and next reading

Explore the original curriculum and publisher-hosted resources for full-depth reading; this note is an original schematic introduction, not an exhaustive chapter.

Official / publisher source: NMC official CBME Curriculum 2024 and current regulations index ↗Official / publisher source: NCBI Bookshelf ↗Official / publisher source: PubMed ↗