The drug heparin acts in hemostasis by:
A)inhibiting thrombin and AT-III.
B)preventing the conversion of prothrombin to thrombin.
C)shortening the fibrin strands to retract the blood clot.
D)degrading the fibrin within blood clots.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Clinically administered heparin or heparan sulfate (on the surface of endothelial cells) binds to AT-III and induces a conformational change that greatly enhances its activity. Under normal conditions the presence of endothelial cell heparin sulfate and available AT-III in the circulation cooperate to protect the vessels from the effects of spontaneously activated thrombin .

The Drug Heparin Acts in Hemostasis By