Question

Heparin is connected with
A) Coagulation
B) Prevention of blood coagulation
C) Dilution of blood
D) Buffering of blood

Answer 1

Hint: Heparin is an anticoagulant which is medically used as a blood thinner. It is used in prevention of blood clots.

Complete Answer:
- Heparin is an anticoagulant and is naturally produced by liver; a small amount is reported to be produced from basophils and mast cells also. It is known to prevent coagulation of blood and so is able to prevent the clot formation in blood vessels.
- It can prevent clotting by inactivating thrombin which is an enzyme which converts fibrinogen into fibrin threads to form clot.
- Heparin is also a blood thinner which keeps the smooth blood flow in the blood vessels. It is given by injections to patients with blood clots.

So, the correct answer is option (B) Prevention of blood coagulation.

Additional information:
Heparin is biochemically highly sulfated glycosaminoglycan or mucopolysaccharide (long unbranched polysaccharides which consists of repeating disaccharide units). It is also an anticoagulant and is used to treat blood clots in the veins, arteries or lungs.

Note: Heparin acts as an anticoagulant and prevents blood clotting by the releasing specific proteins like tissue plasminogen activator as well as tissue factor pathway inhibitor, in the blood.