Destruction of fibrin during clot breakdown is called?

• A. Fibrinogenolysis
• B. Fibrinolysis
• C. Hemostasis
• D. Coagulation

Answer: (B)

Destruction of fibrin during clot breakdown is fibrinolysis. Fibrin forms the stable mesh that holds a clot together, and enzymes such as plasmin break down those fibrin strands to dissolve the clot and restore normal blood flow. Fibrinogenolysis would mean breaking down fibrinogen, the soluble precursor to fibrin, which is a different process related to preventing clot formation. Hemostasis refers to the overall process of stopping bleeding, including vasoconstriction, platelet plug formation, and coagulation. Coagulation is the pathway that converts fibrinogen into fibrin to form the clot. So the breakdown of fibrin itself is fibrinolysis.