Thrombosis, Embolism, Ischaemia, Infarction Flashcards
Describe blood flow in health
Flow, endothelial cells
Laminar flow
Non-sticky endothelial cells
How do endothelial cells stay non-sticky?
Nitric Oxide
What is a thrombus?
A solid mass in a blood vessel formed in intact vascular systems during life
What is the process of thrombosis formation?
Platelet aggregation
+ve feedback loop - clotting cascade
Fibrin mesh forms
RBCs are trapped in the fibrin mesh
What are the 3 factors in Virchow’s Triad?
Blood flow stasis
Endothelial injury - sticky
Hypercoagulability
How can thrombosis be prevented?
Aspirin - inhibits platelet aggregation
Heparin - anticoagulant
Early mobilisation - prevents stasis
What is an embolus?
Mass of material in the vascular system becoming lodged in a vessel and blocking it
Name some causes of an embolus
Thrombus breaking off and travelling to smaller vessels
Air
Cholesterol crystals
Tumour
Fat
What are the consequences of an embolism
Venous, arterial
Venous - embolus travels to the vena cava and lodges in pulmonary arteries, pulmonary embolism
Arterial - able to travel anywhere downstream
What is ischaemia?
Reduced blood flow to tissues
What is infarction?
Cut off blood flow to tissues leading to cell death
What is the significance of single vs multiple arterial supply
Single arterial supply is more susceptible to infarction
