U2 KA7 - The Pathology Of Cardiovascular Disease Flashcards
What is Atherosclerosis?
The formation of plaques called an atheroma beneath the inner lining of the wall of an artery is known as Atherosclerosis
Describe the Process of Atherosclerosis
- Endothelium becomes damaged due to high blood pressure/cigarette toxins.
- Fatty deposits (mainly cholesterol), fibrous material and calcium form an atheroma/plaque in the endothelium.
- Plaque causes narrowing of arteries. (reduce diameter of lumen) and Artery thickens and loses its elasticity.
- Difficult for blood to pump – rise in blood pressure.
- Plaque leads to high blood pressure which leads to more plaque.
- Oxygen and nutrients can’t get to cells.
Consequences of the atheroma
This conditioning can then lead to various cardiovascular diseases
*Myocardial infarction
*Coronary heart disease
*Stroke
What is a Thrombus?
The formation of a blood clot (thrombus) is referred to as thrombosis.
Describe the Formation of a Thrombus
- Atheroma may rupture.
- Clotting factors released.
- The enzyme prothrombin is converted to its active form thrombin.
- Thrombin promotes fibrinogen to form threads of fibrin.
- Fibrin threads form a meshwork that clots the blood ands seals the wound forming a thrombus
What is an Embolus?
If a thrombus breaks loose it becomes known as a embolus
What are som of the consequences of an Embolus
As this occurs in arteries, the embolus may be carried along in circulation until it blocks narrower vessels
This results in blood flow being severely restricted or stopped
If this occurs in the coronary artery of the heart, it results in coronary thrombosis. The heart muscle is deprived of oxygen and may lead to a myocardial infraction (heart attack)
A blockage of arteries supplying brain leads to stroke. The brain cells supplied by that artery may die as they are deprived of oxygen.
What are Peripheral arteries
Arteries in the body that are not the aorta , coronary and carotid arteries
What does atherosclerosis/embolisms in the peripheral arteries cause?
If these peripheral arteries are affected by atherosclerosis, their central cavity becomes narrower
This can lead to a peripheral vascular disease, which most commonly affects the leg arteries.
Blood flow becomes restricted to these arteries and pain is felt in the leg muscles as the cells are receiving insufficient oxygen
Describe DVT
A deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a thrombus that forms in a deep vein most commonly in the leg.
This causes a painful swelling in the leg and veins towards the surface of the skin become engorged with blood
Describe Pulmonary embolism
If a blood clot (embolus) travels to the lung it results in a pulmonary embolism.
Where in the body is cholesterol found?
Cell membrane
What is the role of Cholesterol
It is an important substance as a precursor for the production of steroids, such as sex hormones.
How is cholesterol removed from the body
In Bile
What is the function of Lipoproteins and where are they found?
They are found in blood plasma and are responsible for transporting lipids (including cholesterol) form one part of the body to another
