Pathophysiology of Atheroma Flashcards
What is atheroma/atherosclerosis?
Formation of focal elevated lesions (plaques) in intima of large and medium-sized arteries
What is formation of focal elevated lesions (plaques) in intima of large and medium sized arteries called?
Atheroma/athersclerosis
What is the difference in atheroma and atherosclerosis?
Atherosclerosis is the condiction caused by atheroma
What is an example of an atheroma?
In coronary artieries atheramatous plaques narrow lumen and lead to ischaemia
This leads to angina due to myocardial ischaemia
What is a thromboembolism?
Obstruction of a blood vesssel by a blood clot that has become dislodged from another site in the circulation
What is the obstruction of a blood vessel by a blood clot that has become dislodged from another site in the circulation called?
Thromboembolism
What leads to arteriosclerosis?
Age related change in muscular arteries caused by:
Smooth muscle hypertrophy
Reduplication of internal elastic laminae
Intimal fibrosis
What does arteriosclerosis contribute to?
High frequency of cardiac, cerebral, colonic and renal ischaemia in the elderly
What is arteriosclerosis?
Age related change in muscular arteries causing the walls to thicken and harden
When are the clinical effects of arteriosclerosis most apparent?
When cardiovascular system is further stressed by haemorrhage, major surgery, infection or shock
What is the difference between atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis?
Arteriosclerosis is the hardening of the artery walls with age
Atherosclerosis is where plaques build up inside the lumen of arteries
What are the 3 different kinds of atheroma?
Fatty streak
Early atheromatous plaque
Fully developed atheromatous plaque
What are fatty streak atheroma composed of?
Masses of lipid-laden macrophages
Who are fatty streaks often seen in?
Young children
Who are early atheromatous plaques often seen in?
Young adults onwards
What are early atheromatous plaques composed of?
Lipid-laden macrophages
What can fatty streaks progress to?
Early atheromatous plaques
What can early atheromatous plaques progress onto?
Fully developed atheromatous plaques
What are fully developed atheromatous plaques composed of?
Central lipid core with fibrous tissued cap, covered by arterial endothelium
What provides strength to a fully developed atheromatous plaque?
Collagens produced by smooth muscle cells in the cap
What resides in the fibrous cap of a fully developmed atheromatous plaque?
Inflammatory cells (macrophages, T-cells, mast cells)
What is the central lipid core of a fully developmed atheromatous plaque rich in?
Cellular lipids/debris derived from macrophaes (died in the plaque)
What rim is often present around fully developed atheromatous plaques?
Rim of foamy macrophages
Why are the rim of macrophages in a fully developed atheromatous plaque foamy?
Uptake of oxidised lipoproteins via specialised membrane bound scavenger receptor
What occurs late in the development of fully developed atheromatous plaques?
Dystophic calcification
Where do fully developed atheromatous plaques often form?
Arterial branching points
What is an atheroma?
Degeneration of the walls of the arterires caused by accumulated fatty deposites and scar tissue, leading to restriction of the circulation and risk of thrombosis
What is degeneration of the walls of the arteries caused by accumulated fatty deposites and scar tissue called?
Atheroma