Physiol. Chem. [mod. f. as prec. + -IN.] The substance that by interaction with fibrinogen gives rise to fibrin, and is hence the immediate cause of the clotting of shed blood; fibrin-ferment.
1898. E. A. Schäfer’s Text-bk. Physiol., I. 160. Fibrin-ferment (thrombin) or its precursor (prothrombin) producing the formation of fibrin from fibrinogen.
1900. E. H. Starling, Elem. Hum. Physiol., iii. (ed. 4), 78. The coagulation of the blood is due to the conversion of a soluble proteid present in the plasma—fibrinogen, into an insoluble proteid—fibrin, under the agency of a ferment, which is known as fibrin ferment or thrombin.
