Module 7 - Atherosclerosis and Its Sequelae

Question 1

Angina pectoris

• Definition
• What is the pain described as?
• What brings on this type of attack?

Answer 1

Refers to the chest pain felt when the myocardium (heart muscle) receives an inadequate blood supply

• The pain is typically described as a ‘tight’ or ‘clenching’ feeling, and it may often be felt in the left arm as well as the chest
• Attacks of angina pectoris are usually brought on by excitement or physical exertion

Question 2

Aneurysm

Answer 2

An abnormal outpouching of an artery, a vein, or the heart formed as a result of a weakening of the vessel wall

Question 3

Arrhythmia

Answer 3

Abnormal heart rhythm; may be an abnormality of rate, regularity, site of impulse origin, or sequence of activation

*Also see dysrhythmia - the term arrhythmia is used even for abnormal, but regular rhythms

Question 4

Atheromatous plaque

Answer 4

The characteristic lesion of atherosclerosis which consists of a ‘fibrous cap’ of connective tissue, and a necrotic core (the ‘atheroma’); also known as a ‘fibrofatty plaque’ or just plain ‘plaque’

Question 5

Atherosclerosis

Answer 5

A disease of large and medium-sized arteries. It is characterized by the formation of fibrofatty deposits in the intimal layer of arteries called ‘atherosclerotic plaques’

Question 6

Chronic ischemic heart disease

Answer 6

Refers to the condition in which patients with severe coronary atherosclerosis suffer the symptoms of ischemic heart disease repeatedly and chronically, often due to multiple severe narrowings in their coronary arteries

Question 7

Claudication

Answer 7

Causes limping; e.g. intermittent claudication - pain, tension and/or weakness in the legs on walking which may intensify and result in limping, relieved by rest, seen in severe atherosclerotic disease

Question 8

Congestive heart failure

Answer 8

Refers to the consequences of cardiac failure, in particular, pulmonary edema (hence ‘congestive’ failure), and the failure to perfuse the systemic circulation

Question 9

Dysrhythmia

Answer 9

An abnormal rhythm; cardiac dysrhythmias refer to disturbances in the electrical rhythm of the heart

*Also see arrhythmia

Question 10

Fatty streak

Answer 10

The precursor lesion to an atheromatous plaque

Question 11

Hypertension

Answer 11

Elevated blood pressure; according to Canadian guidelines, hypertension is defined as having a systolic pressure consistently greater than 140mm Hg and/or a diastolic pressure consistently greater than 90mm Hg

Question 12

Infarction

Answer 12

A localized area of ischemic necrosis produced by blockage of the arterial supply or its venous drainage

Question 13

Ischemia

Answer 13

Diminished blood supply to tissues

Question 14

Ischemic heart disease

Answer 14

Occurs when decreased blood flow results in an inadequate supply of oxygen to the heart muscle (myocardium)

Question 15

Myocardial infarction

Answer 15

An infarction occurring within cardiac muscle, and is commonly referred to as a ‘heart attack’

Question 16

Occlusion

Answer 16

The act of closure or state of being closed; an obstruction or a closing off; occlusive, pertaining to or affecting occlusion

Question 17

Pericarditis

Answer 17

Inflammation of the surface of the heart (pericardium)

Question 18

Subendocardial

Answer 18

Involvement of only the inner half of the heart wall.

Question 19

Sudden cardiac death

Answer 19

Death due to cardiac causes, occurring within six hours after the onset of symptoms (oftentimes a sudden collapse with only a brief period of symptoms or none at all)

Question 20

Tamponade

Answer 20

Accumulation of fluid (commonly blood) on the external surface of the heart, but within the pericardium causing compression of the heart

Question 21

Thrombosis

Answer 21

The inappropriate or pathological formation of a solid mass (from the constituents of blood) within a blood vessel or organ

Question 22

Transmural

Answer 22

Involvement of the full thickness of the heart wall

Question 23

Ventricular rupture

Answer 23

A tear that occurs in the infarcted region of the heart following a myocardial infarction