How does aspirin act as an anticoagulant?

1. Aspirin is acetylsalicylic acid, and one of its known activities is anticoagulation. 2. It acts by inhibiting the aggregation of platelets. 3. That places its effect at the platelet plug step rather than in the clotting factor cascade. 4. It is given during a heart attack or stroke to reduce the adverse effects, and at low dose as prevention in patients at cardiovascular risk. 5. Converting plasminogen to plasmin is what tissue plasminogen activator does, so that option names a thrombolytic mechanism instead. 6. Breaking down fibrin directly is the action of plasmin itself, not of aspirin. 7. Aspirin can also cause ulceration and gastritis, which is why a physician should be consulted before any daily regimen. _Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology (CC BY 4.0), Ch 18 "The Cardiovascular System: Blood", section 18.5 Hemostasis_