Histopathology - Artery

Question 1

Answer 1

Femoral Artery Thrombus

 Muscular wall indicates that it is an artery (cut in vessel is postmortal because there is no

bleeding)

o White clot

 Internal elastic membrane marks border between tunica media and intima

 Tunica intima is widened. Atherosclerotic plaques have darker patches of inflammation

 Endothelial cells bordering lumen are absent, replaced by fibrous material and clotting

o Trabeculae of the fibrin mesh present inside the thrombus means that the thrombus is stationary and connected to the wall, unlike post-mortal clots

o Clot attached to wall indicates it was formed on wall plaque, where endothelial surface is ruined.

 Arterial clots are rarely occlusive, but emboli are

Question 2

Answer 2

Atherosclerotic Artery - Aorta

 There are 3 types of arteriosclerosis

1. Atherosclerosis – seen here
2. Arteriosclerosis
3. Monckeberg type media sclerosis

 Intima, media, and adventitia can be seen here

 Plaques affect the intimal layer

o This is a calcification, so it stains bluish with hematoxylin

o Rhomboid empty white spaces where cholesterol has been washed out.

Question 3

Answer 3

Atherosclerotic Artery – Aorta; Oil Red O stain

 Frozen section

 Lipids in intima can be seen

Question 4

Answer 4

Arteritis

 Frozen section

 Lipids in intima can be seen

 This is giant cell arteritis. There are 2 types of giant cell arteritis: o Takayasu: affects aorta

o Arteritis temporalis: affects temporal artery and vessels of head and neck

 Since this is not in the aorta, this is a slide of arteritis temporalis

 Vessels have small lumen

 Painful, can cause blindness if it affects the ophthalmic artery

 Giant cells are multinucleated. Other examples of giant cells:

o TB granulomas have Langhans cells o Foreign body giant cells
o Anitschkow cells in rheumatic fever

 To diagnose arteritis, must take multiple segments of the artery