Steps Involved in the Coagulation Cascade 1. Vascular Injury: Blood vessel damage triggers the cascade. 2. Platelet Plug Formation: Platelets adhere to the injury site, forming a temporary plug. 3. Activation of Clotting Factors: - Intrinsic Pathway: Activated by trauma inside the vascular system (slow, complex). - Extrinsic Pathway: Triggered by external trauma (fast, simpler). 4. Common Pathway: Both pathways converge, activating Factor X. 5. Thrombin Formation: Factor X converts prothrombin i