Blood clotting is helped by

Options

A. `Na^(+)`
B. `K^(+)`
C. `Ca^(++)`
D. `Mg^(++)`

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Blood Clotting**: Blood clotting, also known as coagulation, is a crucial process that occurs when there is damage to a blood vessel. It prevents excessive blood loss from the body.

2. **Role of Platelets**: When a blood vessel is injured, platelets (a type of blood cell) aggregate at the site of the injury. This aggregation is essential for the formation of a blood clot.

3. **Activation of Platelets**: The activation of platelets is primarily facilitated by calcium ions (Ca²⁺). Calcium plays a critical role in the clotting process.

4. **Formation of Thromboplastin**: As the platelets aggregate, they produce a substance called thromboplastin. This substance is essential for the next steps in the clotting cascade.

5. **Conversion of Prothrombin to Thrombin**: Thromboplastin activates an enzyme known as prothrombinase. This enzyme converts prothrombin (a plasma protein) into thrombin, but this conversion also requires calcium ions.

6. **Formation of Fibrin**: Thrombin then converts fibrinogen (another plasma protein) into fibrin. Fibrin is a fibrous protein that forms a mesh-like structure, which is crucial for stabilizing the blood clot.

7. **Completion of Clot Formation**: The fibrin fibers aggregate and form a stable clot, effectively stopping the blood loss from the damaged vessel.

8. **Conclusion**: Therefore, the mineral that helps in blood clotting is calcium.

**Final Answer**: Blood clotting is helped by calcium.

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