Diseases of the Aorta

Question 1

Tunica intima

Answer 1

layer of endothelial cells

Question 2

tunica intima is separated from the tunica media by the

Answer 2

internal elastic lamina

Question 3

Tunica media is separated from the tunica adventitia by the

Answer 3

external elastic lamina

Question 4

Tunica media

Answer 4

smooth muscle cells

Question 5

tunica adventitia

Answer 5

thin connective tissue layer

Question 6

Atherosclerosis risk factors

Answer 6

hypertension

hypercholesterolaemia

smoking

diabetes

family history

male

Question 7

Atherosclerosis can lead to..

Answer 7

stroke

myocardial infarction

aneurysm

Question 8

Aneurysm definition

Answer 8

a localised enlargement of an artery caused by the weakening of the vessel wall

Question 9

True aneurysm

Answer 9

weakness and dilation of wall

involves all 3 layers

atherosclerosis/hypertension etc

Question 10

False aneurysm

Answer 10

rupture of the wall of the aorta with the haemotoma either contained within the tunica adventitia or the surrounding soft tissue

Question 11

signs and symptoms of thoracic aneurysms

Answer 11

asymptomatic
(based on location)

SOB

hoarseness

chest pain

hypotension

Question 12

Aortic dissection

Answer 12

tear in the inner wall of the aorta

blood forces the walls apart

medical/surgical emergency

Question 13

Dissection aetiology

Answer 13

hypertension

atherosclerosis

trauma

Marfan’s Syndrome

Question 14

Aortic dissection histology

Answer 14

cystic medial necrosis

Question 15

Symptoms of aortic dissection

Answer 15

tearing

severe chest pain

collapse

Question 16

Aortic dissection examination

Answer 16

reduce or absent peripheral pulses

hypo or hypertension

pulmonary oedema

widened mediastinum

Question 17

Aortic dissection investigations

Answer 17

CXR

ECho

CT scan

Question 18

aortic dissection treatment

Answer 18

surgery

BP control

Sodium nitroprusside

beta blocker

Question 19

Takayasu’s Arteritis

Answer 19

Granulomatous vasculitis

aorta and main branches

stenosis, thrombosis, aneurysms, renal artery stenosis

Question 20

Takayasu’s arteritis treatment

Answer 20

steroids

surgery

Question 21

Syphilis

Answer 21

STD

Treponema pallidum

Question 22

Syphilis treatment of late stages

Answer 22

antibiotics

Question 23

Tertiary syphilis can lead to

Answer 23

shyphilitic aortitis - aneurysm

aortic regurgitation

Question 24

Congenital aortic aneurysm can present as

Answer 24

bicuspid aortic valve

coarctation

marfans syndrome

Question 25

Bicuspid aortic valve is the most common congenital abnormality. it is prone to..

Answer 25

aneurysm and dissection

Question 26

Coarctation is the

Answer 26

aortic narrowing close to where ductule arterioles inserts

Question 27

3 types of coarctation

Answer 27

pre-ductal

ductal

post-ductal

Question 28

Signs of coarctation

Answer 28

cold legs

poor leg pulses

Question 29

Symptoms of coarctations

Answer 29

infancy - heart failure and failure to thrive

later life - hypertension