U2: 15- Pathology Of Cardiovascular Disease Flashcards
What is atherosclerosis?
The formation of plaques, called atheromas, under the endothelium of an artery
Atherosclerosis is characterised by the formation of plaques, what are these plaques called?
Atheromas
What are atheromas composed of?
Fatty material like cholesterol and calcium
What do the presence of atheromas do to the size of the lumen in blood vessels?
Reduces their diameter
What do atheromas do to blood pressure?
Increase blood pressure
What to atheromas do to the walls of arteries?
They cause the loss of elasticity and cause them to become hardened
What can the condition atherosclerosis lead to later in life?
Cardiovascular diseases such as coronary heart disease, strokes and heart attacks
What name is given to the blood vessels on the surface of the heart that provide the cardiac muscle with oxygenated blood?
Coronary arteries
If the coronary arteries get blocked it can sometimes cause a crushing pain in the centre of the chest, what is this condition called?
Angina
Angina is often the warning sign that you could suffer what event later in life?
Heart attack (myocardial infarction)
In blood clotting, clotting factors are released whenever the cells suffer damage to try and prevent blood loss at a wound. Clotting factors cause the inactive enzyme prothrombin to turn into what?
Active enzyme called thrombin
The enzyme thrombin converts the soluble plasma protein fibrinogen into what?
Insoluble fibrin
What gathers at a framework of fibrin threads?
Platelets forming a blood clot
What name is given to the lining of the artery?
Endothelium
What do atheromas do to the endothelium of the artery?
Burst through it and damages it
What is the name of the blood clotting process?
Thrombosis