PATHOLOGY Flashcards
Describe age-related vascular changes.
- fibrosis of intima and media
- accumulation of ground substance
- fragmentation of elastic lamellae
Give 3 non-modifiable risk factors for atherosclerosis.
- age
- sex
- low birth-weight
Give 4 possible complications of atherosclerosis.
- stroke
- embolism
- MI
- cardiac failure
- aortic aneurysm
- peripheral vascular disease
- gangrene
What are 4 effects of peripheral vascular disease?
- intermittent claudication
- pain
- ulcers
- gangrene
Name 6 types of aneurysms.
- berry
- atherosclerotic
- dissecting
- micro-aneurysms
- syphilitic
- mycotic
Define aneurysm.
localised, permanent, abnormal dilatation of blood vessel or of the heart wall
Describe the morphology of atherosclerotic aneurysms.
- saccular or fusiform
- 15-25cm in length
- wall diameter >50%
- frequently contains a mural thrombus
What are 5 possible clinical consequences of atherosclerotic aneurysms?
- thrombosis
- embolism
- rupture
- obstruction of a branch vessel
- impingement on an adjacent structure
What is the clinical symptom of a dissecting aortic aneurysm?
sudden excruciating pain in the anterior chest, radiating to between the two scapulae
What are capillary micro-aneurysm?
- hypertension
- diabetes mellitus
Define varicose veins.
abnormally dilated, tortuous veins produced by prolonged, increased intraluminal pressure and loss of vessel wall support
Give 5 risk factors for varicose veins.
- age
- sex
- heredity
- posture
- obesity
Define vasculitis and give 4 examples.
= inflammation and necrosis of blood vessels
- giant-cell (temporal) arteritis
- Takayasu arteritis (pulseless disease)
- polyarteritis nodosa
- Kawasaki disease
Give 5 symptoms of Takayasu arteritis.
- dizziness
- visual disturbances
- dyspnoea
- intermittent claudication of upper limbs
- asymmetric BP
Name three types of haemangioma.
- juvenile (strawberry)
- capillary
- cavernous
What group of patient is mots likely to develop a Kaposi’s sarcoma?
immunosuppressed
What is the function of a valve?
to allow forward flow but to prevent back flow
What are the 4 components of a valve?
- valve ring
- cusp
- chordae
- papillary muscles
Define stenosis and incompetence.
STENOSIS
narrowing of the valve outlet caused by thickening of valve cusps, or increased rigidity or scarring
INCOMPETENCE
insufficiency/regurgitation caused by incomplete seal when valves close, allowing blood to flow backwards
To which valve(s) do the 1st and 2nd heart sound respectively belong?
1st = mitral and tricuspid 2nd = aorta and pulmonary
Name 4 acquired causes of cardiac valve stenosis and incompetence.
- rheumatic fever
- MI
- age-related
- endocarditis
Give 3 causes of aortic stenosis.
- calcification of congenital bicuspid valve
- senile calcific degeneration
- rheumatic fever
What are 3 clinical symptoms of aortic stenosis?
- dyspnoea
- angina
- syncope
Give 3 causes of aortic competence.
- infective endocarditis
- rheumatic fever
- Marfan’s syndrome