The clotting process is run by special proteins we call clotting factors. These factors team up to stop bleeding. There are three main paths the clotting process can follow. These are also known as clotting pathways (coagulation pathways). We call these pathways the “intrinsic,” “extrinsic,” and “common” pathways. Even though these aren’t real pathways inside the body, they help us understand how the body controls bleeding. These pathways show us how factors inside the blood turn on (activate) e