The coagulation cascade is a complex series of events involving the activation of various proteins in the blood that ultimately leads to the formation of a blood clot. This process is essential for hemostasis, which is the body's way of stopping bleeding and maintaining vascular integrity. The cascade consists of two main pathways: the intrinsic pathway, activated by damage to blood vessels, and the extrinsic pathway, triggered by external trauma, both converging into a common pathway that results in fibrin formation.
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