2 Thromosis

Question 1

What is atheroma

Answer 1

-atheroma are like
small fatty lumps
that develop
within the inside
lining of blood
vessels (arteries).
• Atheroma is also
known as
atherosclerosis
and hardening of
the arteries.
• Patches of
atheroma are
often called
plaques of
atheroma

Question 2

Definition of Thrombosis

Answer 2

Solid mass of blood constituents
• Formed within the vascular system
• In life

Question 3

Clotting

Answer 3

Clotting means coagulation which can
occur within or outside the vascular
system in life or post mortem

Question 4

Thrombus composition

Answer 4

1. FIBRIN: Polymer
2. PLATELETS: tiny,
   shown lower
   compared to red
   blood cell.
3. Entrapped RBCs and
   serum

Question 5

Production of fibre

Answer 5

Contact with damaged endothelium or atheromatous plaque contents (etc) triggers the coagulation cascade which converts fibrinogen monomer to the jelly like fibrin polymer.

Fibrinogen to fibrin is made by coagulation cascade

Question 6

Platelets

Answer 6

On contact with fibrin
or collagen platelets
release granules
which promote
aggregation of
adjacent platelets to
form a mass which
covers, for example,
an endothelial defect.

Platelet aggregation in
this way is a normal
phenomenon, and
occurs continuously in
the body to repair
minor endothelial
injury.

Question 8

What are the 4 outcomes of thrombosis

Answer 8

• thrombolysis
  -recanalisation
  -embolism
  -fibrosis

Question 9

Thrombolysis

Answer 9

Thrombosis can be
cleared by the
fibrinolytic system.
Plasminogen activator
released from
endothelial cells
converts plasminogen
to plasmin which

Question 10

Recanalisation

Answer 10

Thrombosis can undergo
recanalisation. Endothelial
cells grow out from the
vessel wall and create new
channels

Question 11

Fibrosis organisation

Answer 11

Thrombosis can
simply be organised
i.e undergo fibrous
tissue replacement

Question 12

Embolism

Answer 12

EMBOLISM
Thrombosis can
throw off emboli
which can occlude
distal vessels