What it means
Clotting is how the body stops bleeding: plateletPLAYT-litA tiny cell fragment in the blood that sticks together at a wound to help form a clot.Full entry s stick together at a cut and strands of a protein called fibrin bind them into a plug. A clot that forms inside a blood vessel when there is no injury is a thrombus (thrombosisthrom-BOH-sisThe forming of a blood clot (a thrombus) inside a blood vessel or the heart.thromb/o clot-osis conditionFull entry ); a clot that breaks loose and travels is an embolus (embolismEM-buh-liz-umThe blocking of a blood vessel by a mass carried there in the blood (an embolus), such as a clot, fat or an air bubble.embol/o plug-ism conditionFull entry ). A clot in a deep leg vein (deep vein thrombosisDEEP VAYN throm-BOH-sisA blood clot in a deep vein, most often in the leg or pelvis.thromb/o clot-osis conditionFull entry ) can travel to the lungs (pulmonary embolismPUL-muh-nair-ee EM-buh-liz-umA blockage of an artery in the lungs, usually by a blood clot that has traveled there from elsewhere in the body.pulmon/o lung-ary relating toembol/o plug-ism conditionFull entry ).
For the nurse
Help prevent clots after surgery and in clients who cannot move about: early walking, leg exercises, fluids, compression devices and anticoagulants as ordered. Report one-sided calf pain or swelling, or sudden shortness of breath or chest pain.
At a glance
| Everyday words | clot |
|---|---|
| Spanish | coágulo de sangre |
| Also written | blood clots, clot, clots |
Related terms
deep vein thrombosis
A blood clot in a deep vein, most often in the leg or pelvis.
thrombosis
The forming of a blood clot (a thrombus) inside a blood vessel or the heart.
platelet
A tiny cell fragment in the blood that sticks together at a wound to help form a clot.
anticoagulant
A drug that slows the blood's ability to form clots.
embolism
The blocking of a blood vessel by a mass carried there in the blood (an embolus), such as a clot, fat or an air bubble.