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coagulation

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noun co·ag·u·la·tion \ kō-ˌa-gyə-ˈlā-shən \
Updated on: 11 Sep 2017

Definition of coagulation

:the process of becoming viscous or thickened into a coherent mass :the forming of clots (as in blood or cream) :the process of coagulating
  • … an incision is made on the skin of the forearm with a spring-loaded device, and the time to coagulation is measured.
  • —Lawrence L. K. Leung

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First Known Use of coagulation

14th century

Medical Dictionary

coagulation

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noun co·ag·u·la·tion \ kō-ˌag-yə-ˈlā-shən \

medical Definition of coagulation

1 a :a change to a viscous, jellylike, or solid state; especially :a change from a liquid to a thickened curdlike state not by evaporation but by chemical reaction
  • the spontaneous coagulation of freshly drawn blood
  • the coagulation of milk by rennin
b :the process by which such change of state takes place consisting of the alteration of a soluble substance (as a protein) into an insoluble form or of the flocculation or separation of colloidal or suspended matter
2 :a substance or body formed by coagulation :coagulum
3 :disruption of tissue by physical means (as by application of an electric current) so that denaturation and clumping of protein occur
  • diathermic coagulation of tissues during surgery to seal bleeding blood vessels
— see electrocoagulation, photocoagulation

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