Hemostasis is achieved through primary and secondary stages. The coagulation cascade, part of secondary hemostasis, stabilizes the platelet plug. It consists of extrinsic, intrinsic, and common pathways, involving multiple clotting factors and calcium ions. Vitamin K is essential for the synthesis of some clotting factors. Each pathway is triggered by specific factors and leads to the activation of the common pathway, ultimately resulting in the formation of a stabilizing fibrin complex.