atherosclerosis

Question 1

where does atherosclerosis most likely occur

Answer 1

in high pressure vessels such as aorta and systemic arteries within the intima

Question 2

define atherosclerosis

Answer 2

accumulation of fibrolipid plaques in
systemic (as opposed to pulmonary) arteries within the intima

Question 3

endothelial damage theory

Answer 3

• endothelial cells are delicate
• easily damaged by cigarette smoke, shearing forces at
  arterial divisions,
• cumulative damage leads to endothelial ulceration, microthrombi , eventual development of established atherosclerotic plaques.

Question 4

where is athero most likely to occur

Answer 4

at the bifurcation of high pressure arteries.

Question 5

formation of atherosclerosis

Answer 5

1 Endothelial cell dysfunction
2 High levels of LDL in the blood to intima of artery where it is oxidises right OXLDL and smooth muscle migration
3 Macrophages migrate across endothelium where they digest OXLDL and become foam cells
4 Formation of a fatty streak
5 The activated macrophages will release lots of- cytokines and growth factors
6 Smooth muscle proliferation (to intima) around the lipid core and formation of a fibrous cap and formation of a clot

Question 6

risk factors of atherosclerosis

Answer 6

Hypercholesterolaemia  most important risk factor
Smoking
Hypertension
Diabetes
Male sex
Increasing age

Question 7

Time course of atherosclerosis

Answer 7

Birth- none
Late teens =20s fatty streaks in aorta , may not progress to established atherosclerosis
30/40/50s - development of established atherosclerotic plaques
40-80s complications of atherosclerotic plaques ,

Question 8

What is an infarction

Answer 8

Tissue death due to a lack of blood flow to affected area

Question 9

What are foam cells

Answer 9

A type of macrophage that localise to fatty deposits on blood vessel walls

Question 10

What is stenosis

Answer 10

Narrowing of the arteries