A medical term for a 'clot breakdown agent' is a thrombolytic, which refers to drugs designed to dissolve blood clots, such as tissue plasminogen activator, and improve outcomes post-stroke if used promptly. The correct option is e.
The medical term that means "clot breakdown agent" and refers to a drug that breaks down blood clots is thrombolytic. These drugs, which include agents like tissue plasminogen activator, catalyze the conversion of plasminogen to plasmin, leading to the degradation of abnormal clots. The timely administration of a thrombolytic agent is critical in improving the prognosis following a thrombotic stroke. It is important to note that anticoagulants and thrombolytic drugs, although related by their action on blood coagulation pathways, are distinct in their functions. Anticoagulants work to prevent new clots from forming and are often used in the ongoing management of thrombotic disorders, whereas thrombolytic drugs actively break down existing clots.
Answer:
Option E, thrombolytic
Explanation:
The medical term for a blood clot is called a thrombus, stemming from the Greek word "thrombos" meaning lump or curd and an olden definition of small tumor following blood-letting. Because of this, many medical terms that refer to blood clots will use the root phrase and combining form "thromb/o-".
The medical term for the breakdown or dissolution of something is known as lysis, coming from the Greek word of the same name, meaning loosening. Some terminology will use this word as a suffix, such as in the term glycolysis, when referring to a process of breakdown. When referring to a substance's ability to perform the breakdown process, this suffix becomes -lytic; which comes from the Greek word "lytikos".
Together, the medical term they combine to form can describe the given definition. A thrombolytic is an agent, usually a medication like tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), that can breakdown blood clots, option E.