AM L1 Introduction Flashcards
What is atherosclerosis?
Thickening of the artery wall due to accumulation of fatty material - leading to the production of an atheromatous plaque
Atheromateous plaque consists of …. + ….
Paste with a hard fibrotic plaque over the top
Stenosis is …
abnormal narrowing of the blood vessel
CVD accounts for …% of deaths in Europe
48%
Is ATS a modern disease?
No - found in ancient mummies from different lifestyles
Prevalence increases/decreases with age?
Increases
Two suggestions for why all different lifestyles of ancient mummy showed ATS?
1 lived with open fires in the dwelling
2 chronic infection was not dealt with so it heightened inflammatory response.
….both result in increased risk
In 1800s it was propsed ATS was due to
plasma components (including lipids) inducing an inflammatory response in the arterial wall
1965 proposed that ATS was…
associated with lipid containing marcropages
Present day thinking is that ATS is …
an inflammatory disease.
Immune responses participate in every phase.
Define ATS
slowly progressing, pathological process involving the tunica intima of arteries
Artery is lined with…
a single layer of cells,
this is what is initially affected.
After initial affecting the lining of the artery…
smooth muscle cells are found where you shouldnt have them, with changes to their phenotype
Three layers of the arteries
Tunica intima - inner most
Tunica media
Tunica Adventitia/externa - outermost
Tunica intima is made of …. cells
endothelial
Tunica media is made of …. & …. cells
smooth muscle and elastic tissue
Tunica externa is made of ….
connective tissue
ATS produces plaques which are…. made of … & ….
focal legions made of lipid material and fibrous tissue
LDLs transpost cholesterol ….
to cells
HDLs transport cholesterol ….
away from tissues, to the liver
Increased levels of LDL or HDL associated with ATS?
LDLs
Risk factors of LDLs related to (2)
size of LDL particle and concnetration
HDLs are considered protective because…
they carry cholesterol away from the artheroma
Low concentrations of LDL or HDL is associated with ATS?
HDLs
In early ATS do plaques interfere with flow?
Rarely
Thrombosis superimposed on non-stenotic leisons potentially leads to…
ischemia of target organs and tissues
rupture could also lead to block of blood flow
Role of endothelial cells? (2)
control vascular tone anticoagulant properties (when healthy)
macrophages are differentiated from….
circulating monocytes
Role of macrophages (2)
Phagocytotic
Secrete inflammatory cytokines
Inflammatory cytokines are….
small soluble molecules that signal between cells
Platelets are derived from
megakaryocytes
Role of platelets (2)
Critical roles in hemostasis (stopping the flow of blood) and thrombosis
Platelets are…
anucleate cell fragments
Smooth muscle is found…
lining the walls of hollow organs and tubes
& in arteries, arterioles and veins
Smooth muscle is voluntary or invol?
involuntary
