Atherosclerosis.

Question 1

What happens in atherosclerosis?

Answer 1

Thinning, hardening, LOSS OF ELASTICITY.

Question 2

Name some of the commonly affected arteries by atherosclerosis.

Answer 2

Elastic - Aorta, Carotid and Iliac. Muscular - Coronary, Popliteal.

Question 3

Describe the three patterns of arteriosclerosis.

Answer 3

Atherosclerosis, Monckeberg sclerosis and Ateriolosclerosis.

Question 4

Monckeberg sclerosis.

Answer 4

Medial calcific stenosis. Calcium deposits found in the muscular portion of the arteries (MEDIA); in atherosclerosis the problem is related to the intima.

Question 5

How is atherosclerosis brought about.

Answer 5

Initiated as a response to injury. Intimal thickening, Intra and extra cellular lipid accumilation, Chronic inflammation.

Question 6

Modifiable risk factors of atherosclerosis.

Answer 6

Hyperlipidemia, Hypertension, CIgarette smoking, Diabetes, Elevated Homocysteine, Infections: Herpes, Chlamydia pnemoniae, Obesity, Sedentry lifetsyle, Stress.

Question 7

Atherosclerosis is a disease of the ________.

Answer 7

INTIMA!

Question 8

Two major processes in plaque formation.

Answer 8

Intimal thickening (Smooth muscle cell proliferation and Extracellular matrix Synthesis), Lipid accumalation.

Question 9

How a response to injury in a vessel would lead to atherosclerosis.

Answer 9

Injury to DYSFUNCTIONAL ENDOTHELIUM, Chronic Inflammatory response - increased permeability, leukocyte adhesion, Adhesion of blood monocytes, transformation into macrophages and foam cells, Accumilation of LDL followed by Oxidation, Migration of Smooth Muscle Cell from MEDIA to INTIMA, Proliferation of smooth muscle cell in intima, Excess production of ECM, Enhanced Lipid accumulation.

Question 10

Chronic Consequences of Plaque formation.

Answer 10

Stenosis leading to Ischemia or turbulence, Rupture, Embolus formation.

Question 11

What has to happen to get rid of plaques?

Answer 11

Lower LDL, Macrophages should ingest lipids and there should be a reversal of cholesterol transport.

Question 12

What effect would the loss of elasticity of the artery in atherosclerosis have on blood pressure?

Answer 12

Increase Systolic blood pressure.

Question 13

What consequences would the weakening of the arterial wall as a result of atherosclerosis have on the artery?

Answer 13

Aneurysms.

Question 14

What would fatty streaks indicate about the type of cells present?

Answer 14

FOam cells.

Question 15

Describe the differences between a smooth and a stable plaque.

Answer 15

A vulnerable plaque will have a thinner fibrous cap, will be richer in lipids and have more extracellular matrix.

Question 16

Progression of atherosclerosis.

Answer 16

-

Question 17

How would an aortic aneurysm present in a patient?

Answer 17

A pulsating abdominal mass accompanied by abdominal pain.

Question 18

TIA.

Answer 18

Transient Ischemic Attacks - a mini strokecause by partial blockage of an artery.

Question 19

Cerebral involvement of atherosclerosis.

Answer 19

Result in memory loss due to cerebral atrophy (chronic).

Question 20

Atherosclerosis of celiac and mesenteric arteries.

Answer 20

Can cause ischemic entercolitis if more than one artery is affected but is uncommon due to collateral supply.

Question 21

Intestinal atherosclerosis.

Answer 21

Acute - gangrenous necrosis,

Chronic - Ischemic entercolitis.

Question 22

Atherosclerosis of the renal artery.

Answer 22

Can lead to renal hypertension, progressive ischemic atrophy of the kidney leading to renal failure (nephrosclerosis).

Question 23

Intermittent claudication.

Answer 23

Caused by ischemia of the leg muscles during exercise.