Arteries

Question 0

Describe what happens to an artery as it moves from the heart to the periphery

Answer 0

Associated with more branches and smaller the vessel diameter becomes

Question 1

What determines the size of the artery?

Answer 1

Distance from the heart

Question 2

Describe large arteries. Examples?

Answer 2

Elastic artery / conducting artery
Aorta and primary branches of aorta
Diameter >1 cm

Question 3

Why are large arteries (the aortae specifically) called elastic arteries?

Answer 3

Because of large amounts of elastic tissue in the tunica media

Question 4

Elastic arteries branch into?

Answer 4

Medium sized arteries

Question 5

Describe medium sized arteries

Answer 5

Muscular / distributing arteries
Most named arteries in gross anatomy (example femoral)
2-10 mm

Question 6

Medium sized arteries branch into?

Answer 6

Small arteries

Question 7

Size of small arteries?

Answer 7

0.1-2mm

Question 8

Small arteries branch into? What are there size range?

Answer 8

Arterioles 10-100 um

Question 9

What composes the tunica adventitia in the large/medium arteries?

Answer 9

Fibroblastic connective tissue
Elastic and collagen fibers
Vasa vasorum
Nerve fibers

Question 10

Composition of tunica media in large/medium arteries

Answer 10

Circularly oriented components:
Smooth muscle cells
Elastic tissue
External elastic membrane (DISTINCTIVE of muscular arteries)

Question 11

Composition of tunica intima in large/medium sized arteries

Answer 11

Longitudinally oriented components:
Endothelial layer
Subendothelial layer (fibroblast, collagen, elastic fibers)
Internal elastic membrane (DISTINCTIVE of muscular arteries)

Question 12

What produces the CONCENTRIC elastic tissue in the tunica media?

Answer 12

Resident smooth muscle cells!

Question 13

Atherosclerosis occurs where?

Answer 13

T. intima

Question 14

Arteriosclerosis occurs where?

Answer 14

T. media

Question 15

What layers of large/medium arteries most often undergo degenerative changes?

Answer 15

T. intima and T. media

Question 16

A stain for elastin in an elastic artery would most likely stain darkest where?

Answer 16

Tunica media (some in the internal elastic membrane, this layer is not as thick as in muscular arteries)

Question 17

Makeup of T. adventita in medium/muscular artery?

Answer 17

Elastic and collagen fibers

Question 18

Describe the T. media in muscular artery

Answer 18

Thick and mostly composed of smooth muscle cells

Question 19

Where is thee internal elastic membrane in muscular artery?

Answer 19

T. intima

Question 20

What is indicative and identifiable in larger muscular arteries?

Answer 20

External elastic membrane

Question 21

T or F: The T. media in muscular arteries displays elastin

Answer 21

F (not much)

Question 22

Where color does tunica media stain in muscular artery?

Answer 22

Eosin stain because of smooth muscle tissue

Question 23

T or F: Even small vessels have the three tunica layers

Answer 23

T (down to arteriole level)

Question 24

As vessel diameter increases what happens to the layers of tunica?

Answer 24

Get thinner (especially the tunica media)

Question 25

Describe the unique characteristics of arterioles as compared to larger vessels

Answer 25

T intima - no internal elastic membrane, T media - not much collagen, few layers of smooth muscle (1-5 cells thick) T adventitia - not robust, has some elastic fibers in small arteris

Question 26

Role of muscle layer in arterioles

Answer 26

Regulates BP, contraction raises resistance to blood flow and increases blood pressure, relaxation increases blood flow (following meal to GI for example)

Question 27

What are the main resistance vessels in the circulatory system?

Answer 27

Arterioles, they control flow of blood!

Question 28

What is arteriosclerosis?

Answer 28

Characterized by rigidity and fibrosis of the vascular walls

Question 29

What is the cause of arteriosclerosis?

Answer 29

Accumulation of collagen and elastic fibers in the tunica intima and a LOSS of smooth muscle and elastic fibers in the tunica media and their replacement with collagen fibers and mineral salts Presence of macrophages in the tunica intima

Question 30

Where is arteriosclerosis most evident? Connection to other diseases?

Answer 30

Most pronounced in the elastic and muscular arteries (though seen down to arterioles) Associated with hypertension and diabetes

Question 31

A cross section in arteriosclerosis would show what in the tunica intima of a muscular artery?

Answer 31

Displaced lines of elastin and cracks radiating from the lumen

Question 32

What is the most common form of arteriosclerosis?

Answer 32

Atherosclerosis

Question 33

What is atherosclerosis?

Answer 33

Characterized by deposits of yellowish (fibrofatty) plaques in the intima of large and medium arteries (bulge into the lumen)

Question 34

Most common cause of morbidity in vascular diseases?

Answer 34

Atherosclerosis

Question 35

Blood vessels most affected by atherosclerosis?

Answer 35

Coronary arteries, carotid arteries, cerebral arteries, renal arteries, etc.

Question 36

Narrowing of arterial lumens lead to?

Answer 36

Due to atherosclerosis | Ischemia, stroke, coronary heart disease, renal arterial ischemia

Question 37

Describe stages 1-4 of atherosclerosis

Answer 37

Slow, progressive accumulation of lipids 1: Fatty streak of intracellular lipid accumulation 2: Intermediate lesion, More accumulation intracellular, small extracellular lipid pools 3: Atheroma, core of extracellular lipid 4: Fibroatheroma, single of multiple lipid cores, fibrotic/calcific layers

Question 38

Describe stages 4-5 of athersclerosis

Answer 38

Accelerated accumulation of smooth muscle cells and collagen 4: Fibroatheroma - single/multiple lipid cores, fibrotic/calcific layers 5: Complicated lesion: suface defect, hematoma/hemorrhage, thrombosis

Question 39

Stage 6 of atherosclerosis

Answer 39

Thrombosis or hematoma

Question 40

What is an aneurysm?

Answer 40

Ballooning of an artery due to breakdown of arterial wall. Elevated blood pressure can cause ballooning and breakage leading to massive loss of blood

Question 41

Most common vessel with aneuysm?

Answer 41

Abdominal aorta

Question 42

Possible causes of aneurysm?

Answer 42

Age related displacement of elastic fibers by collagen | Associated with atherosclerosis, syphilis, genetic connective disorder (marfan, ehlers-danlos)