Cardiovascular pathology

Question 1

atherosclerosis

Answer 1

deposition of cholestrol in blood vessel walls which can restrict blood flow
mostly affects large blood vessels

Question 2

arteriosclerosis

Answer 2

associated with age, changes to wall e.g hardening/stiffening
mostly affects small blood vessels

Question 3

atheroma and its effects

Answer 3

also known as a plaque, can cause..
narrowing of blood vessels (artery stenosis)
obstruction of blood vessels
aneurysm - blood vessels can dilate and weaken to point of rupture causing haemmorhage

Question 4

modifiable factors relating to atherosclerosis

Answer 4

lifestyle changes e.g quit smoking, more exercise, less alcohol, less obesity

Question 5

non - modifiable factors relating to atherosclerosis

Answer 5

age - older patients affected more
gender - males at greater risk, females high oestrogen before menstruation protects them against various cardiovascular conditions
genes

Question 6

familial hypercholesterolaemia

Answer 6

mutation to the LDL receptor gene

LDL = bad cholesterol , these LDL receptors take LDL to liver for processing so in this disease LDL remains in the blood

Question 7

hyperlipidemia

Answer 7

greatest risk factor for atherosclerosis

body has too many lipids e..g cholesterol, can be from high fat diet or inherited

Question 8

what 2 states can endothelial cells that line blood vessel walls be in

Answer 8

basal (normal)

activated (pathology)

Question 9

endothelial cells basal state

Answer 9

normal
surface = smooth, non-adhesive and non-thrombogenic
normal range of growth factors e.g VEGF

Question 10

laminar flow vs turbulent flow

Answer 10

laminar = smooth, normal, regular 
turbulent = irregular , fluctations

Question 11

endothelial cells activated state

Answer 11

seen in pathology
surface is adhesive and thrombogenic
induced by cytokines, virues, cigarette smoke, toxins, hypertension etc

Question 12

atherosclerosis process

Answer 12

1 - lipoproteins damage endothelial cells increasing their permeability
2 - increased permeability sees lipids deposited in the the tunica intima of the bv wall
3 - changes to cell adhesion molecules on endothelial cells allow macropahges and t cells to enter bv wall where they engulf the lipids
4 - smooth muscle proliferation and fibrous tissue formation sees formation of a plaque that is at risk of rupture and haemmorhage

Question 13

foam cells

Answer 13

macrophages that have engulfed lipids

large and pale

Question 14

ischaemia

Answer 14

decreased blood supply to tissue/ organ

Question 15

infarction

Answer 15

complete occlusion of a blood vessel stopping supply

Question 16

thrombosis

Answer 16

blood clot within a blood vessel

Question 17

embolism

Answer 17

blocked artery caused by a foreign body e.g a blood clot from an atheroma

Question 18

peripheral vascular disease

Answer 18

atherosclerosis of limbs

Question 19

hamartoma

Answer 19

developmental growth with normal cells/ structures that are increased in size

Question 20

angiosarcoma

Answer 20

rare high grade malignancy that forms on endothelial cells

Question 21

kaposi sarcomas

Answer 21

low grade malignancy of endothelial cells - commonly in the immunosuppressed e.g HIV infected

Question 22

haemangiomas

Answer 22

hamartomas which appear very early in life but usually dissapear by age 10
majority are on head/ neck