Cardiac Pathos

Question 1

What is the patho of Atherosclerosis?

Answer 1

Irritant is present
damage to the endothelium occurs
LDL cholesterol deposits accumulate in
the artery wall known as fatty streaks
LDL oxidises, sends signals to the immune systems, monocyte arrive
monocytes convert into macrophages and consume cholesterol
macrophages fill up on cholesterol and die = foam cells
formation of foam cells = release of cytokines
smooth muscle cells migrate into the fatty plaque and form a lipid cap
smooth muscle cells also deposit calcium into the fatty plaque causing it to harden and bulging into the artery lumen
blood flow decreased, reduced resistance
ongoing inflammation = plaque rupture and thrombogenic material inside the
lipid cap is exposed = arriving platelets
a thrombus is formed and occludes the artery resulting in ischaemia or ultimately infarction

Question 2

What is the patho of Ischaemic Heart Disease?

Answer 2

ineffective myocardial oxygen perfusion
myocardial demand is greater than oxygen supply
risk of heart muscle damage/necrosis
damaged heart muscles behave ineffectively
at risk of arrhythmias
may lead to a cardiac arrest

Question 3

What is the patho for Heart Failure?

Answer 3

RIGHT SIDE
Most commonly occurs after RHF
RV fails to pump blood into congested pulmonary circulation
Blood backs up into peripheral and organ circulation

LEFT SIDE
Left Ventricle unable to pump with enough force
Blood backs up into the lungs
Pulmonary Congestion – Alveoli is filled with oedema fluid making gas exchange nearly impossible
Unable to adequately supply body organs leads to low organ perfusion and hypoxia

Question 4

What is the patho of a Myocardial Infarction?

Answer 4

there is a sudden blockage of the coronary artery by a blood clot
coronary arteries are blood vessels that supply the heart with blood and oxygen
blockage of the coronary artery deprives the heart of blood and oxygen causing injury to the heart muscle which causes chest pain and sensation of chest pressure, if blood flow is not returned in 20-40 mins irreversible death to the heart muscle will begin to occur
muscle continues to die for 6-8 hrs at which the time of the heart attack is usually ‘complete’
the dead muscle is then replaces by scar tissue

Question 5

What is the patho for Angina?

Answer 5

Coronary heart disease causes coronary arteries to narrow due to the build up of plaque
narrowing of the coronary arteries makes it difficult for blood to flow through the arteries causing the symptoms of angina.