Atherosclerosis (cardiovascular disorders)

Question 1

atherosclerosis

Answer 1

fibrofatty lesion (atheroma) in intima of arteries

Question 2

atherosclerosis causes…

Answer 2

local ischemia which leads to MI, CVA, or PVD

Question 3

3 stages of lesion

Answer 3

• fatty streak
• fibrous atheromatous plaque
• complicated lesion

Question 4

atheroma

Answer 4

lesion (deposited in vessel wall, not in lumen)

Question 5

fatty streak

Answer 5

• discoloration on wall of vessels (yellowish)
• macrophages, lipids, foam cells, smooth muscle cells
• pt asymptomatic

Question 6

fibrous atheromatous plaque

Answer 6

• accumulation of lipids, proliferation of SM cells, calcification

Question 7

complicated lesion

Answer 7

• changes in lumen of vessel
• hemorrhaging into the plaque (bleeding into the lesion)
• lesion develops into thrombus (blood clot)
• unstable

Question 8

atherosclerosis pathophysiology

Answer 8

• subtle changes effect endothelial lining of vessels
• endothelial injury causes inflm (inc CRP)
• monocytes attach to endothelium –> enter intima –> become macrophages
• macrophages produce free radicals (oxidize LDL) –> engulf lipids (now are foam cells) and attract platelets –> form clot inside lumen
• foam cells release GFs –> trigger smooth muscle proliferation & migration
• muscle cells move into lumen –> atheroma forms
• mnfts appear decades later