FACTOR VIIA Meaning and
Definition
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Factor VIIa, also known as activated factor VII, is a key protein component of the coagulation cascade within the human body. It is an enzyme that plays a crucial role in blood clot formation, specifically in the initiation of the coagulation process.
Factor VIIa is derived from its precursor, factor VII, through a complex activation process that involves tissue factor (TF) and factor IXa, both of which are present at sites of tissue injury or vascular damage. This activation leads to the conversion of factor VII to its activated form, factor VIIa.
Once activated, factor VIIa binds to tissue factor, resulting in the formation of a complex that further activates factor X and factor IX. This activation cascade eventually culminates in the generation of thrombin, a key enzyme responsible for the conversion of fibrinogen into fibrin, the insoluble protein network that forms the basis of blood clots.
Factor VIIa also exhibits procoagulant properties by directly activating factor X independently of tissue factor. These additional roles further enhance its contribution to the coagulation process, promoting the formation of stable blood clots.
In medicine, factor VIIa is utilized therapeutically as a medication known as recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) in the treatment of specific bleeding disorders. It can be administered to patients with hemophilia to support and initiate clotting in situations where conventional clotting factors are deficient or impaired. The use of rFVIIa requires careful clinical evaluation and close monitoring due to the potential risk of thrombotic events.
Common Misspellings for FACTOR VIIA
- factor iiy
- factor vviii
- dactor viia
- cactor viia
- vactor viia
- gactor viia
- tactor viia
- ractor viia
- fzctor viia
- fsctor viia
- fwctor viia
- fqctor viia
- faxtor viia
- favtor viia
- faftor viia
- fadtor viia
- facror viia
- facfor viia
- facgor viia
- facyor viia
Etymology of FACTOR VIIA
The word "Factor VIIa" has its origin in the field of medicine, specifically in the context of blood clotting. Here's the breakdown:
- Factor: In medicine, a "factor" refers to a substance or agent that plays a role in a biological process. In the case of blood clotting, factors are proteins that work together in a cascade to form a clot and stop bleeding.
- VII: "VII" represents the Roman numeral for the number seven. In the field of blood clotting, there are several factors labeled with Roman numerals ranging from I to XIII. Each factor is assigned a number based on the order of its discovery or the order in which it participates in the clotting cascade.
- a: The lowercase "a" is added to indicate the activated form of a factor.
