noun
- Plural of plasminogen; inactive precursor proteins in blood plasma that are converted to plasmin, an enzyme that breaks down blood clots.
Usage: medical/scientific term; used in hematology and clinical biochemistry
Examples
- Plasminogens are essential components of the fibrinolytic system that dissolves blood clots.
- The laboratory measured plasminogen levels to assess the patient's clotting function.
- Tissue plasminogen activator converts plasminogens into active plasmin during thrombolytic therapy.
- Low plasminogen concentrations can increase the risk of thrombosis.
- Researchers studied how plasminogens interact with fibrin to understand clot breakdown mechanisms.