Hemostasis involves three main mechanisms: (1) vascular constriction to reduce blood flow from damaged vessels, (2) formation of a platelet plug to physically block blood loss from small cuts, and (3) formation of a blood clot through coagulation to seal larger vessel openings. Coagulation is initiated through both the intrinsic pathway, triggered by blood contact with exposed collagen, and the extrinsic pathway, triggered by tissue factor released from damaged cells. A complex cascade of coagulation factor activations ultimately leads to the generation of thrombin which converts fibrinogen to fibrin to form a clot.