Histology 1 - Cardiovascular

Question 1

Define ‘infarction’

Answer 1

Obstruction of the blood supply to an organ or region of tissue, causing local death

Question 2

Define ‘infarct’

Answer 2

A small, localised area of dead tissue resulting from a failure of blood supply

Question 3

In what part of the artery does an atheromatous plaque develop?

Answer 3

Forms in the tunica intima of the artery

Question 4

Where (in relation to the lumen) is the fibrous cap located in the artery?

Answer 4

The fibrous cap is located towards the lumen of the artery

Question 5

What is the fibrous cap composed of?

Answer 5

Composed of smooth muscle cells, macrophages, foam cell, lymphocytes, collagen, elastin, proteoglycans and neurovascularisation

Question 6

What is the ‘necrotic centre’?

Answer 6

This is the part of the atheroma towards the artery wall

Question 7

What is the necrotic centre composed of ?

Answer 7

Cell debris, cholesterol crystals, foam cells, calcium

Question 8

What does dark staining myocardium indicate?

Answer 8

Dark staining indicates acute inflammation and infarcted muscle

Question 9

How does staining of the myocardium change with an increased level of infarction?

Answer 9

As the muscle infarct worsens, the infarcted area becomes more an more condensed and so appears darker and darker on a stain

The stain also appears less and less pink and starts to appear more white as a collagen mesh starts to form

There is also an increased level of infiltration of inflammatory cells, neutrophils

Question 10

What is rheumatic fever?

Answer 10

This is an inflammatory disease that can involve the heart, joints, skin and the brain
Typically develops 2-4 weeks following a streptococcal throat infection

Question 11

What are ‘Aschoff bodies’ and how do they occur?

Answer 11

These are nodules that are found in the hearts of individuals with rheumatic fever - located in the myocardium of the heart
These are characteristic of rheumatic fever

Results from inflammation of the heart muscle

Question 12

What do Aschoff bodies look like on the heart?

Answer 12

Appear as small red bumps on the heart e.g. around the mitral valve
Look inflamed

Question 13

What can chronic damage from rheumatic fever and inflammation result in in a valve?

Answer 13

Can lead to e.g. rheumatic mitral stenosis

Fusion of commisures and fusion and shortening of the chordae tendinae

Question 14

l

Answer 14

l