case 1

Question 1

what are reticular fibres?

Answer 1

a type of fibre in connective tissue composed of type III collagen secreted by reticular cells.
crosslink to form a fine meshwork (reticulin).

Question 2

what is a reticular cell?

Answer 2

a type of fibroblast that synthesizes collagen alpha-1(III) (type III collagen) and uses it to produce reticular fibers

Question 3

describe the paracortex of the lymph node.

Answer 3

does not contain any lymphatic nodules

mainly a site for mostly T lymphocytes to aggregate.

Question 4

what is a masson’s trichrome stain?

Answer 4

three-colour staining protocol

useful for distinguishing cells from surrounding connective tissue

Question 5

what is the brachial artery?

Answer 5

major blood vessel of the upper arm

Question 6

where is the ulnar nerve?

Answer 6

arm

Question 7

what colour is collagen in the masson’s trichrome stain?

Answer 7

green

Question 8

what is the capillary lumen about the size of?

Answer 8

a red blood cell

Question 9

what is the capillary comprised of?

Answer 9

a single layer of endothelial cells

Question 10

how are elastic arteries different from muscular arteries?

Answer 10

contain more elastic tissue in tunica media

bigger

Question 11

what is morphology?

Answer 11

essentially the 3D form of anatomy.

Question 12

what is thrombosis?

Answer 12

the formation of a stationary blood clot (thrombus) in the blood vessel.

Question 13

what is an embolism?

Answer 13

the blockage of blood vessel by an embolus. The embolus that causes the blockage is often a blood clot or thrombus but can also be air bubbles or foreign materials.

Question 14

where can an embolism occur?

Answer 14

lungs (PE)
brain (cerebral embolism)
heart (coronary embolism)

Question 15

what are the most common connective tissue cells?

Answer 15

fibroblasts
adipocytes
chondrocytes
osteocytes
leukocytes

Question 16

what are the most common GAGs?

Answer 16

hyaluronic acid
chondroitin sulphate
beratin sulphate

Question 17

where is connective tissue proper found?

Answer 17

fat. ligaments, tendons.

Question 18

what is atherosclerosis?

Answer 18

progressive disease characterised by build up of lipids and fibrous elements in the large arteries.

Question 19

what is the no1 cause of death globally?

Answer 19

CVD-~30% of all deaths. vast majority happen in low income countries.

Question 20

what are the modifiable risk factors of CVD?

Answer 20

• hypercholesterolaemia (high cholesterol) esp more LDL
• smoking
• hypertension
• diabetes
• obesity
• sedentary lifestyle
• unhealthy diet
• alcohol

Question 21

what are the non modifiable risk factors of CVD?

Answer 21

• male gender
• increasing age
• low birth weight
• family history

Question 22

what is the leading risk factor for heart and circulatory disease in the UK?

Answer 22

hypertension.

Question 23

where is blood pressure usually measured?

Answer 23

brachial artery.

Question 24

what is syncope?

Answer 24

fainting

Question 25

what is the most likely presentation of carotid sinus hypersensitivity?

Answer 25

falls and syncope

Question 26

In England, it is estimated that for every 10 people diagnosed with hypertension, how many others have undiagnosed hypertension?

Answer 26

7

Question 27

what does QRISK3 assess the risk of?

Answer 27

heart attack or stroke over the next 10 years.

Question 28

what is the drug class of indapamide?

Answer 28

thiazide-like diuretic

Question 29

what is the main effect of thiazide-like diuretics?

Answer 29

at low doses, as used in hypertension, thiazide-like diuretics have more prominent vasodilation actions.
diuretic effects only become more apparent at higher doses.

Question 30

what is coarctation of the aorta?

Answer 30

also called aortic narrowing- congenital condition where the aorta is narrow.

Question 31

what happens in aortic dissection?

Answer 31

where there is damage to the inner wall of the aorta and so blood can move between the layers of that aortic wall forcing them apart.

Question 32

what is pre-enclampsia?

Answer 32

refers to new-onset hypertension in pregnancy, alongside new-onset proteinuria (most cases) or other signs and symptoms.

Question 33

what does the common carotid artery split into?

Answer 33

internal and external carotid arteries

Question 34

define: connective tissue

Answer 34

a type of tissue which binds and supports structures in the body.

Question 35

define: extracellular matrix.

Answer 35

a non cellular matrix of ground substances and fibres that provides structural and biochemical support to the surrounding cells.

Question 36

what is a fibroblast?

Answer 36

type of cell found in connective tissue that produces and maintains the extracellular matrix and produces collagen.

Question 37

what are the nervi vascularis?

Answer 37

small unmyelinated sympathetic nerves that traverse the tunica adventitia and release noradrenaline.

Question 38

what provides nutrients to the tunics of the large vessels?

Answer 38

vasa vasorum (‘vessels of vessels’). found in border between media and adventitia or just in the adventitia.

Question 39

what is blood flow in diastole driven by?

Answer 39

the elastic recoil of the major arteries

Question 40

When a person moves from a supine position to a standing position, what compensatory mechanisms occur?

Answer 40

Increased heart rate mediated by a decrease in parasympathetic tone via the vagal nerve and the release of catecholamines by the adrenal medulla.