Unit 2-Pathology Of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Flashcards
What is atherosclerosis?
Atherosclerosis is the build-up of fatty material (such as cholesterol, fibrous material and calcium)
What can the plaque that forms and builds up through atherosclerosis also be called?
An atheroma.
What can an atheroma cause?
Arteries can lose its elasticity.
Reduced blood flow in the artery
Reduced diameter of lumen of artery leading to increased blood pressure.
What cardiovascular diseases can atherosclerosis lead to?
Coronary heart disease (including angina)
Stroke
Heart attack
Peripheral vascular disease
If atheromas on the lining inside an artery become enlarged, what might happen?
They can burst through the endothelium and damage it.
If this happens, clotting might occur.
What is thrombosis?
Formation of a blood clot (thrombosis) in a vessel.
What is the series of reactions that occur when clotting factors are released?
Prothrombin (the inactive enzyme) is converted into thrombin (the active enzyme) by clotting factors.
The thrombin then causes the conversion of fibrinogen into threads of fibrin.
The threads of fibrin form a mesh network that traps blood platelets and blood cells creating a clot.
If the blood clot becomes break loose/dislodged and becomes mobile what may form?
An embolus.
What can an embolus do?
An embolus is carried in the blood until it reaches a narrow vessel, where it blocks the vessel and causes blood flow to be severely restricted or even stop it completely.
Blockage of a coronary artery by a thrombus such as an embolus is also called?
A coronary thrombus
What can be the result of a coronary thrombus?
Can lead to a myocardial infarction (MI) also known as a heart attack when it stops oxygen from reaching the heart.
A thrombus that causes a blockage in an artery to the brain may lead to a?
Stroke.
How can strokes be damaging to the tissue?
If the cells do not have a supply of oxygen, this leads to the death of tissue.
What is prothrombin?
An inactive enzyme.
What is thrombin?
An active enzyme.