Blood Composition Effect Flashcards
What are metabolically active cells of the endothelial lining influenced by
constituents of the bloodstream (lipids, glucose, free radicals)
What damages endothelial lining
high levels of constituents
Lipids
fats that circulate in the bloodstream and make up cell membranes
What is the main lipid found in the bloodstream
cholesterol
Where is cholesterol synthesized
the liver
Why is cholesterol important
helps to maintain cell stability and is a component of steroid hormones and bile acids
Why are lipoproteins formed
lipids are insoluble in the blood, so they are carried by proteins
Triglycerides
large lipid molecules stored as fat
High density lipoproteins (HDL)
lipids that are excreted from the body (good fat)
Low density lipoproteins (LDL)
lipids that are deposited on artery walls (bad fat)
Hyperlipidemia
elevated lipids in the bloodstream (mainly cholesterol and triglycerides)
What is the fundamental condition that causes atherosclerosis
hyperlipidemia due to the interruption/injury to the arterial wall
What does high levels of LDL and low levels of HDL cause
CVD
Glycosylation
glucose reacts with cell membranes of endothelial cells to form advanced glycosylation end products (AGEs)
What do AGEs do
injure the smooth endothelial surface
What do high levels of glucose lead to
inflammation and formation of atherosclerotic plaque
What does glucose stimulate secretion of
endothelin
Free radicals
molecules with a single unpaired electron in its shell
What do free radicals do
cause damage to endothelial lining and create inflammation
Nicotine effect on arteries
vasoconstriction, especially coronary arteries
What does nicotine do to BP
immediately increase and stay increased for a while
What does nicotine do to the nervous system
activates the SNS, releasing epinephrine and increases HR (the fight or flight response)
What does vasoconstriction from nicotine do
increase the inflammatory response, decreasing perfusion
Homocysteine
an amino acid involved in the metabolism of folic acid and b-vitamins
What does a deficiency in folic acid and vitamin b do
inables homocysteine to be broken down
What do increased homocysteine levels do
damage endothelial lining and promote thrombosis formation
