Atherosclerosis + Blood Clotting

Question 1

What are the stages of atherosclerosis?

Answer 1

1. Damage top the endothelium of arteries due to high blood pressure/ciggy chemicals.
2. inflammatory response - white blood cells move from the blood into the wall of the artery, they accumulate cholesterol.
3. Atheroma is produced
4. Calcium salts and fibrous tissue build up inside atheroma. Forms hard swelling - plaque.
5. Plaque hardens wall of artery. Artery loses elasticity.
6. Lumen is narrowed - increases BP

Question 2

What are the stages in blood clotting?

Answer 2

1. damaged blood vessel - collagen in wall is exposed
2. platelets change shape from smooth discs to spiky spheres
3. Activated platelets stick to each other and to damaged BV wall - forms a PLATELET PLUG.
4. damaged wall and platelets then release protein called THROMBOPLASTIN
5. Thromboplastin, calcium ions and vit k trigger this response
   prothrombin —–> thrombin
6. The thrombin catalyses the conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin.
7. fibrin forms fibres in a mesh that stick to the damaged wall. Mesh traps red blood cells to form a blood clot.