Thrombolytic is best described as which of the following?

• A. A drug that reduces pain
• B. A drug that treats infection
• C. A drug that reduces cholesterol
• D. A drug that breaks down blood clots

Answer: (D)

A thrombolytic drug dissolves clots by triggering the body's fibrinolytic system. It activates plasmin, which digests fibrin—the protein network that stabilizes a clot. Because its primary action is breaking down clots, this type of medication is best described as a drug that breaks down blood clots. It does not primarily relieve pain, treat infection, or lower cholesterol, which is why those descriptions don’t fit. In practice, thrombolytics are used to restore blood flow in events like heart attack or certain strokes by dissolving the offending clot.