BLOOD AGENTS MAKE BLOOD GUSH

The world's most venomous snake, the inland taipan from Australia, uses a venom, which makes the blood so thin that it can pass through the blood vessels and cause internal bleeding.

1

The snake bites and injects its venom in the blood. The venom spreads in the entire body.

2

A protein in the venom affects the fibrinogen molecules in the blood, which normally make the blood platelets collect in lumps – i.e. it coagulates. The molecules are transformed to long fibrine chains, which do not have a coagulating effect.

3

Without the coagulation substances, the blood becomes so thin that it passes through the blood vessels and causes serious

internal bleeding. The blood supply to the organs is reduced and they slowly shut down. In some cases, the victim may also bleed from the rectum, mouth or old wounds.