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Definition

noun, plural: hemostases

The complex process of stopping or arresting bleeding or keeping the blood within the damaged blood vessel, particularly by physiological means such as vasoconstriction and coagulation or by surgical means.

Supplement

Hemostasis occurs in the following stages:
(1) vasoconstriction
(2) temporary blockage of a break by a platelet plug
(3) blood coagulation (clot formation)

Word origin: Greek, from aíma (blood) + stásis (stagnation)

Related forms: hemostatic (adjective)

Variant: haemostasis

Opposite: hemorrhage