U2KA7 Flashcards
What is atherosclerosis?
Atherosclerosis is the accumulation of fatty material forming an atheroma or plaque beneath the endothelium.
How does the atheroma affect the endothelium?
As it grows, the artery thickens and loses its elasticity, resulting in the lumen becoming reduced and blood flow becomes restricted, which also results in increased blood pressure.
What diseases is atherosclerosis the root of?
cardiovascular disease (CVD), angina, heart attack, stroke and peripheral vascular diseases. Which all are life-threatening.
What is thrombus caused by?
By the atheroma rupturing, damaging the endothelium, leading to the blood in the artery to clot.
What leads to a myocardial infraction (heart attack)?
Thrombus (blood clot) forming inside a coronary artery.
What leads to a stroke?
A thrombus forming inside an artery in the brain due to lack of oxygen supply to cells.
What are the stages of a thrombus formation?
1) Injury to the endothelium causes platelets to release clotting factors.
2) clotting factors convert the enzyme prothrombin into its active form thrombin.
3) Thrombin converts fibrinogen in the blood into threads of fibrin.
4) The long fibrin threads form a sticky meshwork that clots the blood.
How does embolus occur?
Thrombus breaks loose, which travels through the bloodstream until it blocks a vessel.
What is peripheral vascula disease?
Peripheral vascular disease is narrowing of the arteries due to atherosclerosis of arteries other than those of the heart or brain.
Which arteries are most commonly affected by peripheral vascular disease?
The arteries to the legs, pain in experienced in the leg muscles due to a limited supply of oxygen.
What is deep vein thrombosis (DVT)?
It’s a blood clot that forms in a deep vein, most commonly in the leg.
What does deep vein thrombosis lead to?
By the blood clot breaking off it can result in a pulmonary embolism in the lungs.
What does pulmonary embolism cause?
Blocking branches of the pulmonary artery and reduces oxygen intake by the lungs.
Where is cholesterol found?
In high quantities in many foods, and the liver.
Why is cholesterol a main part of atherosclerosis?
Because the liver cells produce a high proportion of body cholesterol, meaning if a diet high in saturated fats or cholesterol causes an increase in cholesterol levels in the blood.
