METATHROMBIN Meaning and
Definition
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Metathrombin is a term used in the field of hematology and coagulation to describe the activated form of thrombin. Thrombin, a multifunctional enzyme, is a critical component of the blood clotting process. When a blood vessel is damaged, a cascade of events is initiated to form a blood clot to prevent further bleeding. Thrombin plays a central role in this process by converting soluble fibrinogen into insoluble fibrin strands, which form a mesh-like scaffold for clot formation.
Metathrombin refers specifically to the conformational change that occurs in the structure of thrombin when it is activated during the blood clotting process. This change exposes previously hidden binding sites on thrombin, allowing it to interact with other proteins and enzymatic substrates involved in coagulation. Metathrombin enables thrombin to fulfill its various functions, such as activating additional coagulation factors and activating platelets to further enhance clot formation.
Understanding metathrombin and its interactions with other clotting factors is of great importance in the diagnosis and treatment of various bleeding disorders, as aberrations in the regulation of thrombin activation can lead to excessive bleeding or abnormal clotting. Furthermore, metathrombin may serve as a target for therapeutic interventions aimed at modulating the coagulation process, potentially providing novel approaches for managing clotting disorders.
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An inactive derivative of fibrin ferment formed during the process of contraction of the coagulum.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for METATHROMBIN
- metathromban
- metathrombmn
- metathrombhn
- metathrombif
- metathrombil
- metathrombio
- metathrombeen
- m etathrombin
- me tathrombin
- met athrombin
- meta thrombin
- metat hrombin
- metath rombin
- metathr ombin
- metathro mbin
- metathrom bin
- metathromb in
- metathrombi n
Etymology of METATHROMBIN
The word "metathrombin" is a compound word that combines the prefix "meta-" and the noun "thrombin".
The prefix "meta-" in this context means "beyond" or "after". It is derived from the Greek word "metá", which has a similar meaning.
"Thrombin" is a term used in biochemistry to refer to an enzyme responsible for the conversion of fibrinogen into fibrin during the blood clotting process. The word "thrombin" comes from the Greek word "thrombos", which means "clot" or "lump".
Therefore, "metathrombin" can be understood as something "beyond" or "after" the action or state of thrombin, potentially referring to a modified or alternate form of the enzyme.
