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Fibrinolysis

Meaning

Fibrinolysis is the essential physiological process by which the body breaks down fibrin clots, preventing excessive or persistent thrombus formation and ensuring the restoration of normal blood flow following vascular injury. This controlled dissolution of the fibrin mesh is the final, crucial step in the coagulation cascade, maintaining the delicate balance between hemostasis and thrombosis. Clinically, a dysfunctional fibrinolytic system, either overly active or deficient, can predispose an individual to bleeding disorders or pathological clot formation, such as deep vein thrombosis. Hormonal factors, particularly those related to inflammation and endothelial function, significantly influence the efficiency of this critical vascular maintenance process.