Atherosclerosis Flashcards
What is the innermost layer of an artery and what does it consist of?
Tunica intima
Does atherosclerosis effect veins?
Just arteries unless vein is used for bypass
What layer of the artery is thromboresistant?
Endothelium of tunica intima, which is a Continuous, thromboresistant layer between blood and potentially thrombogenic subendothelial tissue
Modulates tone, growth, hemostasis and inflammation throughout circulatory system
What is the middle layer of an artery, outer layer?
Tunica Media
Middle layer of an artery
Consists of smooth muscle cells and an elastic membrane
Tunica Externa / Adventitia
Outer layer of an artery
Composed of extracellular matrix with fibroblasts, mast cells and nerve terminals
Explain arterial physiology in the lens of the tunica intima, media, and externa/adventia?
At the most basic level, arteries carry oxygenated blood throughout the body
Tunica intima creates the pathway for oxygenated blood to be carried to the site of perfusion
Tunica media is comprised of smooth muscle that dilates and constricts in response to cardiac output needs
Tunica externa / adventitia connects arteries to other structures in the body
What is atherosclerosis?
Athero: porridge, fatty material
sclerosis: hardening d/t walling off the fatty material (Refers to connective tissue in the plaques)
Blood can no longer move, leading to ischemia and death
What are fatty streaks?
The first development of althersclerosis that can happen at childhood
What arteries can be affected with atherosclerosis?
All of them!
Brain = stroke
Abdominal aneurism
etc
What are the 6 histologic steps of artherosclerosis?
Fatty streak formation
Fibrous cap development (covers fat up)
Disruption of the vasa vasorum (outside of artery feeds it)
Proliferation of the fibrous plaque (becomes even thicker)
Development of an advanced lesion
Intraplaque hemorrhage (the fatty substances of blood can break up d/t nicks)
Can kill the patient
Explain the development of a fatty streak
The initial histologic step in development of atherosclerosis
Occurs as a result of:
Focal thickening of the intima d/t accumulation of foam cells (looks like fomy beer) and extracellular matrix
Smooth muscle cells can also deposit in the intima
Lipids accumulate, creating the fatty streak
Coronary arteries have a specific protein, biglycan, that can trap VLDL and LDL
Fatty streaks may also contain T lymphocytes²
Vascular injury precipitates monocyte binding to endothelium
Monocytes cross endothelium and become activated tissue macrophages
Macrophages “eat” oxidized LDL, becoming foam cells
T cells release cytokines, which further activates macrophages and cause smooth muscle cells to proliferate
Smooth muscle cells move to subendothelial space, producing collagen and taking up LDL, adding to foam cell accumulation
What is a fatty streak composed of?
foam cells
If a fatty cap becomes stable, what is formed?
Fibrous cap - it is more stable and there can be less pain (as opposed to an unstable fatty streak)
Explain the Disruption of the Vasa Vasorum
A network of micro-vessels originating from tunica adventitia of large arteries
Serve to provide oxygen and nutrients to outer layers of arterial wall
As atherosclerotic plaques expand, they acquire their OWN microvasculature. Plaque vasculature is thin-walled, extending through all layers of the arterial wall
Increased risk of microvascular hemorrhage, leading to progression of atherosclerosis and the fatty streak
this allows more RBCs to hit and can further the clots
Explain the proliferation of the fibrous plaque?
Evolves from the fatty streak
Develops as connective tissue accumulates
Consists of lipid-containing smooth muscle cells and an extracellular lipid pool
What is unstable angina?
Chest pain all the time, including at rest
stable angina, chest pain with exertion
Explain positive vs negative remodeling
Positive remodeling: increased vessel size occurring early in CHD to compensate for plaque accumulation in an effort to reduce lumen loss
Physiologically, alters arterial function leading to symptoms of unstable angina
Negative remodeling: results in vessel shrinkage
Results in obstructive plaques that lead to stable angina
What is the critical event of artherosclerosis?
A result of plaque neovascularization
Critical event that leads to accelerated plaque progression, instability, and ischemic vascular events
all of the blood and fatty tissue occlude the blood flow to the tissue leading to ischemia
What two main things do we need for atherosclerosis?
Lipids (hyperlipidemia)
Inflammation
STATINS!!!!!