What is meant by thrombus?« Back to Questions List

Thrombus is the medical term for a blood clot. The function of blood is to flow continuously and quickly form a clot when bleeding occurs. Heart pumps the blood to other organs and is constantly in motion. Thrombus are healthy and lifesaving whenever they stop bleeding. Blood clots are clumps that occur when blood hardens. 

Blood clots form when blood fails to circulate adequately. Blood clotting help the body repair injured blood vessels. In case of cuts and wounds, blood clots form when blood leaks out of a blood vessel. The clot helps to stop further bleeding at the wound site.

At the same time, abnormal thrombus can cause heart attack, stroke or serious medical problems. When blood clots in the heart, it leads to the malfunction of the organ leading to chest pain or heart attack. Blood clots are more likely in people with cancer, recent surgery or injury, obesity, liver or kidney diseases. Thus blood clotting can be problem depending on the part where it clots. Clot formation in major organs due to reasons like infection, surgery etc may result in serious medical condition.

The major components of blood are red blood cells, white blood cells, platelet and blood plasma. When the blood vessels become damaged, platelets form an initial plug. These platelets release chemicals that start the clotting process. Fibrin is a fibrous protein involved in thrombus. Finally fibrin is formed that cross links to form a mesh that makes up the final blood clot.

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