ICS Flashcards
what are the 2 types of autopsies?
- hospital
- medico-legal (coronial and forensic)
what are the 2 types of medico-legal autopsies?
- coronial (lawful death)
- forensic (non-lawful death)
which type of autopsy is most common?
medico-legal: coronial
what does a hospital autopsy require?
MCCD (medical certificate of cause of death?)
what are hospital autopsies used for?
- teaching
- research
- governance
when are coronial autopsies conducted?
when death is lawful
when are forensic autopsies conducted?
when there’s a non lawful death
what are the 4 questions of the coroner?
- who was the deceased?
- when did they die?
- where did they die?
- how did they come about their death?
what does an autopsic pathologist have the same role as?
the coroner
what are 3 types of deaths referred to a coroner?
- presumed natural
- presumed iatrogenic
- presumed unnatural
what does iatrogenic mean?
caused by medical exam/treatment
what is the no. of days where if not seen by a doctor, a presumed natural death is referred to a coroner?
14
what is the most common referral reason for autopsy?
presumed natural death - not seen doc in last 14d
what are examples of iatrogenic deaths? (4)
- peri/post-op deaths
- anaesthetic deaths
- illegal abortion
- complications of therapy (even if recognised)
name some examples of presumed unnatural deaths (4)
- industrial deaths eg asbestos
- suicide
- unlawful killing
- custody deaths
do docs have a statutory duty to refer deaths to coroners?
no
who has a statutory duty to refer deaths?
registrar of BDM (births, deaths n marriages)
who else can make referrals for autopsy?
relatives, police etc
who performs coronial autopsies?
forensic pathologists
who performs majority of autopsies (hospital)????
histopathologists
what are the 5 steps to an autopsy?
- history/scene
- external examination (formal identifiers etc)
- evisceration (removal of external organs)
- internal examination
- reconstruction
what happened in oct 2016 relating to autopsies?
digital - full body CT scan reported by consultant radiologist
define coronial autopsy
systematic scientific exam that helps coroner determine who the deceased was, when and where did they die and how they came about their death?
define acute inflammation
the initial and often transient series of tissue reactions to injury
how long does acute inflammation often last?
few hours to a few days
what is an example of acute inflammation?
appendicitis
what is inflammation?
(hard to define): local physiological response to tissue injury [often involves cells eg neutrophils n macrophages]
is inflammation a disease?
no, but usually a manifestation of disease
what are the benefit(s) of inflammation? (2ish)
- destruction of invading microorganisms and wailing off of an abscess cavity
- PREVENTING infection spread
what are the negatives of inflammation? (3)
- autoimmunity eg rheumatoid arthiritis
- when it’s an over-reaction to the stimulus
- fibrosis resulting from chronic inflammation may distort tissues and alter their function
list 6 causes of inflammation :/
- microbian infections
- hypersensitivity reactions
- physical agents
- chemicals
- acids/alkalis
- tissue necrosis
list 4 macroscopic (n essential) appearances of acute inflammation
- redness [rubor]
- heat [calor]
- swelling [tumor]
- pain [dolor]
what is rubor?
redness
1 of the 4 classical signs of acute inflammation
what is calor?
heat,
1 of the 4 classical signs of acute inflammation
what is tumor?
swelling,
1 of the 4 classical signs of acute inflammation
what is dolor?
pain,
1 of the 4 classical signs of acute inflammation
why is there heat/calor in acute inflammation?
increased blood flow (AKA hyperaemia) –> vascular dilation
what is hyperaemia?
increased blood flow
why is there swelling/tumor in acute inflammation?
- swelling is from oedema/physical mass of inflammatory cells
- formation of new connective tissue also contributes to swelling
why is there pain/dolor in acute inflammation?
- stretching/tissue distortion due to inflammatory oedema
- AND pus under pressure in abscess cavity
- (also some chemical mediators eg bradykinin, prostaglandins are known to induce pain)
what are 3 features of chronic inflammation?
- slow onset/sequel to acute
- long duration
- may never resolve
what are 3 features of acute inflammation?
- sudden onset 2. short duration 3. usually resolves
list 6 cells involved in inflammation
- neutrophil polymorphs
- macrophages
- lymphocytes
- endothelial cells
- fibroblasts
discuss neutrophil polymorphs (5)
- short-lived cells
- first on scene of acute inflammation
- cytoplasmic granules full of bacteria-killing enzymes
- usually die at scene of inflammation
- release chemicals that attract other inflammatory cells eg macrophages
which wbc is short lived?
neutrophils
which cells are first on scene at acute inflammation?
neutrophils
do neutrophils die at scene of inflammation?
usually
what do neutrophils release?
chemicals that attract other inflammatory cells eg macrophages
what is the life span of macrophages?
long lived compared to neutrophils - weeks to months
what do macrophages do?
- ingest bacteria n debris
- may carry debris away
- may present antigen of lymphocytes
what are kupffer cells an example of?
macrophages
what is the lifespan of lymphocytes?
years
what do lymphocytes do? (2)
- produce chemicals which attract other inflammatory cells
- have an immunological memory for past infections and antigens
what do endothelial cells do? (4)
- line capillary blood vessels in areas of inflammation
- become sticky in areas of inflammation so inflammatory cells adhere to theme
- become porous to allow inflammatory cells to pass into tissues
- grow into areas of damage to form new capillary vessels
what do fibroblasts do and what is their lifespan like?
- form collagen in areas of chronic inflammation and repair - they are long-lived cells
where are inflammatory cells?
in bone marrow, released into blood
what is the best known chemical mediator in acute inflammation?
histamine
name an example of chronic inflammation
tuberculosis
discuss tuberculosis (5)
- no initial acute inflammation
- mycobacteria ingested by macrophages
- macrophages often fail to kill the mycobacteria
- lymphocytes and macrophages appear
- fibrosis occurs
what are granulomas?
- collection of macrophages - surrounded by lymphocytes?
list 3 medications for inflammation
- aspirin
- ibuprofen
- steroids
what is resolution? (2)
- initiating factor removed
- tissue undamaged or able to regenerate
what is repair? (2)
- initiating factor still present
- tissue damaged and unable to regenerate
which organ is a good example for resolution?
liver
what can a paracetamol OD result in?
liver failure
how does alcoholism impact regeneration?
bc of ongoing damage which results in abnormal architecture (cirrhosis)
can pneumocytes that line the alveoli regenerate?
yh
what are the most superficial skin wounds & an example?
abrasion eg road rash from cycling
what happens during abrasion?
only top cell layer is removed, leaving the bottom layer/follicles/glands for scab to form and for the epidermis to eventually be regenerated
what are the 2 types of skin would healing?
healing by 1st n 2nd intention
what is healing by 1st intention?
- edge to edge healing (heals w/ reasonable scar)
- both ends are sealed together, the slight gap is filled w blood, fibrin etc which holds together a little w stitches
- epidermis regrows, fibroblasts produce collagen
- scar line is stronger than surrounding tissue as more blood vessels are grown
do scars along skin creases heal better or worse?
better
what does healing by 2nd intention usually involve?
traumatic wound where u can’t bring 2 edges together
what forms initially during healing by 2nd intention?
granulation –> epithelium slowly grows in from edges (depending on wound size)
define repair
replacement of damaged tissue by fibrous tissue
what is damaged tissue replaced by?
fibrous tissue
what is collagen prod by?
fibroblasts
after a MI, what is there where dead heart tissue was?
a fibrous scar
what does MF stand for?
myocardial fibrosis
what type of scar does MF (myocardial fibrosis) result in?
a dense white fibrous scar (patient may live for a few months but may die after)
which type of healing is preferred?
healing by 1st intention
if healing by 2nd intention, we don’t want infection… what may be done to reduce this?
artificial skin dressings to keep the skin moist so it doesn’t dry out - sometimes may have growth factors in them
what is fibrosis in the brain called?
gliosis
what is gliosis?
fibrosis in the brain
is gliosis contagious?
not as much as usual fibrosis
how does stroke recovery happen?
only the injured (not dead tissue) around the edge of the infarct gets better, with plasticity involved
list some cells that regenerate (5)
- hepatocytes
- pneumocytes
- all blood cells
- gut and skin epithelium
- osteocytes
what are some cells that don’t regenerate?
- myocardial cells
- neurones
what can venous thrombosis potentially cause?
pulmonary embolism
what is clotting within an intact vascular system aka
thrombosis
what is thrombosis within the arterial system usually due to?
damage to the vessel wall (which is often due to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques)
how does platelet aggregation happen?
when atherocsclerotic plaques rupture, then connective tissue collagen is exposed to the blood leading to platelets attaching to it
what can platelet aggregation activate?
the blood clotting system leading to an occlusion of the vessel
what does occlusion of a coronary artery result in?
death of heart muscle due to lack of blood flow (MI)
what does occlusion of a cerebral artery result in?
death of brain tissue due to a lack of blood flow (CI)
what is a stroke aka?
cerebral infarction (CI)
why does thrombosis in the veins most commonly occur?
due to slow blood flow within those veins eg when a patient is lying in bed for long periods of time after a major op
list some preventions of DVT in hosp (3)
- early mobilisation
- use of small doses of anti-coagulants eg heparin
- venous stocking to prevent leg veins being full of blood
what is heparin?
an anti coagulant
what are the 2 reasons why clots are rare?
- laminar flow
- endothelial cells not sticky when healthy
what is laminar flow? and why is it important?
cells travel in the centre of arterial vessels and don’t touch arteries - this is important in reducing risk of blood clots
define thrombosis
the formation of a solid mass from blood constituents in an intact vessel in a living person
what is the first stage of thrombosis?
platelet aggregation
how do platelets cause other platelets to stick to them? (which also starts clotting cascade off)
they release chemicals
why is platelet aggregation and clotting cascade difficult to stop?
both pos feedback loops
what is the name of the large protein molecule formed once the clotting cascade has begun?
fibrin
what does fibrin do?
makes a mesh in which rbc can become entrapped
define embolism
the process of a solid mass in the blood being carried through the circulation to a place where it gets stuck and blocks the vessel (most commonly a thrombus)
could also be a bubble of air/fat/foreign etc
what are some less common causes of embolus? (4)
- air (pressurised systems of IV fluids/blood in infants n kids esp)
- tumour
- amniotic fluid
- fat
if an embolus enters the venous system, where will it lodge?
it will travel to the vena cava –> through RHS of heart –> &will lodge in pulmonary arteries
why can’t an embolus in the venous system get through to arterial circulation?
bc the blood vessels in the lung split down to capillary size so lung acts as a filter for any venous emboli
what acts as a filter for venous emboli?
lungs
what happens if an embolus enters the arterial system?
it can travel anywhere downstream of its entry point eg a mural thrombus overlying a myocardial infarct in LV can go anywhere in systemic circulation
define ischaemia
a reduction in blood flow to a tissue without any other implications
define infarction
reduction in blood flow to a tissue that is so reduced it cannot even support mere maintenance of the cells in that tissue so they die
what is infarction usually caused by?
thrombosis of an artery eg thrombosis in LAD coronary artery causing infarction of anterior wall of LV
what is the triad of factors impacting thrombosis?
Virchow’s triad
- change in vessel wall (endothelial injury)
- change in blood flow (stasis of blood flow)
- change in blood constituents (hypercoagulability)
what does end arterial supply mean?
most organs only have a single artery supplying them so they are very susceptible to infarction if this supply is interrupted
name some organs which don’t have end arterial supply (3)
- liver: portal venous and hepatic artery supplies
- lung: pulmonary venous and bronchial artery supplies
- brain: around COW w multiple arterial supplies
what do endothelial cells act as?
a teflon coating
what can injury lead to exposure of?
collagen
what does fibrinogen get activated by?
chemicals the platelets release
an LAD CA thrombus can led to an MI. how will this present on ecg?
ST elevation on chest leads
how does cigarette smoke change vessel walls?
kills endothhelial cells
why does CO inhalation result in an increased risk of thrombosis?
- inhaling lots of CO
- –> more rbc production
- –> more cells
- = blood more turgid
- –> can thrombus more easily
how does atherosclerosis disrupt laminar flow?
makes artery walls sticky
what is aspirin in low doses daily good for?
inhibits platelet aggregation
what is the most common cause of an embolus?
broken off thrombus travelling in blood stream
what is significant about IV drug abusers?
- street heroin is often cut with talcum powder which isn’t v soluble
- –> injected emboli into veins
- –> usually filtered in lungs, sometimes liver
above what ml of air can cause an embolus?
150
what is infarction a subset of?
ischaemia
what is the diff btwn ischaemia and infarction?
- ischaemia = any red in blood flow
- infarction = death of cells due to lack of blood cells(?)
what causes atherosclerosis?
atheromas
define atheroma
pathology of arteries in which there is deposition of lipids in the arterial wall with surrounding fibrosis and chronic inflammation
what is the predominant cause of M/CI?
atherosclerotic plaques
list 3 risk factors for atheromas
- raised serum lipids
- hypertension
- diabetes mellitus
what is the linkage between high serum lipids and atherosclerosis?
lipids cause endothelial damage
what is the major process after endothelial damage (and with which cells)?
chronic inflammation - with macrophages/fibroblasts
name 3 factors that can reduce endothelial damage
- reduced lipids
- lowered BP
- stopping smoking
which drug can reduce the amount of platelet aggregation at the site of endothelial damage?
taking low dose aspirin
define atherosclerosis
narrowing of arteries due to plaque formation
what is the diff btwn atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis?
- athero = narrowing of arteries due to plaque formation
- arterio = hardening of arteries
define arteriosclerosis
hardening of the arteries
can u have a genetic predisposition to atherosclerosis?
yes
when is complicated atherosclerosis usually seen?
later in life
what is significant about atherosclerosis?
it is mostly based on incremental episodes of endothelial cell damage over a LONG period of time eg decades
what is in a plaque? (3)
- quite a lot of fibrous tissue
- lipids
- lymphocytes (maybe also inflammation)
name 4 risk factors for atherosclerosis
- smoking
- hypertension
- diabetes
- increased deprivation :(
why does vaping have adv over smoking?
free radicals in cig smoke/CO/nicotine kills endothelial cells, vaping has fewer free rads and no CO
list the journey from smoking –> chest pain
- smoking
- endothelial cell damage
- thrombus
- heals bc endothelial cell layer grows over
- small bump
- not much impact
- repeated endothelial damage
- cycle continues w/o symptoms
- symptoms may finally begin after years eg slight chest pain OR still asymptomatic
what are the symptoms of atherosclerosis in coronary arteries?
- vomiting
- anxiety
- angina
- coughing
- feeling faint
what can atherosclerosis in coronary arteries result in?
ischaemia of cardiac muscle cells
list some symptoms of atherosclerosis in carotid arteries
- weakness
- dyspnea
- facial numbness
- paralysis
what is dyspnea?
shortness of breath
wich disease can atherosclerotic plaque also cause?
peripheral vascular disease
what are some symptoms of peripheral vascular disease?
- hair loss
- erectile dysfunction
- weakening of area
what are some symptoms of atherosclerosis in renal arteries?
- reduced appetite
- hand swelling
- renin release can be increased –> BP may be sig increased
high or low amounts of circulating LDL can lead to endothelial dysfunction?
high
plaque formation steps?
?
define apoptosis
programmed cell death of a single cell
define necrosis
unprogrammed death of a large number of cells due to an adverse event
list some examples of adverse events that could result in necrosis?
- infarction
- burns
- frostbite
- etc
which type of cell death is important in the normal function of the human body?
apoptosis?
why is apoptosis important in embryogenesis?
apoptosis removes cells that are no longer needed as organs develop eg tissue btwn fingers/toes so we dot s so that we dont end up w webbed feet n hands
what 2 things is apoptosis implemented by?
caspases and BCl2 protein
what can an aging or ill cell do besides apoptose?
- autophagy
- closing down protein synthesis
- cell cycle arrest
when can abomal apoptosis occur?
in a variety of situations inc:
- drugs
- graft vs host disease after bone marrow transplantation
- neurodegeneration
thermal injury of a burn that physically causes the death of many cells is by what?
necrosis
what are condensed bodies in apoptosis aka
apoptic bodies
is apoptosis a well-coordinated process?
yes
are there any accompanying inflammatory reactions with apoptosis?
no
what does p53 protein detect?
dna damage in dividing cells
why do cancers get bigger?
bc apoptosis is lacking (often bc of a mutation in p53 gene so dna damage is not recognised)
why is apoptosis switched off in HIV?
as p53 is switched on to kill myphocytes?
what happens to the contents of cells in necrosis?
swelling and disintegration of small bodies of cell
list some examples of necrosis
- frostbite
- CI
- avascular necrosis of bone
- pancreatitis
where do congenital and acquired diseases tend to predominate?
congenital = paeds acquired = geriatric
where do autosomal diseases occur?
non-sex chromosomes
what is a congenital disease?
a disease that someone is born with (mostly genetic but can be acquired)
what is an acquired disease?
one that occurs after birth (often due to env, can be genetic)