Atherosclerosis Flashcards
1
Q
Which blood vessels is affected by atherosclerosis?
A
Arteries
2
Q
What are the events leading to atherosclerosis?
A
- Endothelial damage
- Inflammatory response
- Plaque formation
- Raised blood pressure
3
Q
What can damage the artery wall?
A
High blood pressure, toxins or cigarette smoke
4
Q
What happens during inflammatory response?
A
Macrophages leave the blood vessels and go into the wall of the artery accumulating cholesterol and building up an ATHEROMA
5
Q
What happens during plaque formation?
A
Calcium salts and fibrous tissue build up forming plaque, the artery looses its elasticity and hardens
6
Q
Why does atherosclerosis lead to increased blood pressure?
A
The lumen of the artery narrows.
7
Q
What does atherosclerosis lead to?
A
Coronary heart attacks and strokes
