Intrinsic Pathway

The intrinsic pathway is part of the blood clotting process, activated when blood comes into contact with damaged blood vessel walls or exposed tissue inside the vessel. It involves a series of complex reactions where clotting factors (proteins in the blood) are activated in sequence. This pathway helps to initiate the formation of a blood clot, stopping bleeding. It is called "intrinsic" because all the necessary components are within the blood itself, unlike the extrinsic pathway, which involves external tissue factors. Together, these pathways work to quickly and effectively prevent excessive bleeding after injury.