Atherosclerosis Flashcards
(5 cards)
1
Q
What is Atherosclerosis?
A
- Thickening of the artery wall from the accumulation of fatty material
It is a chronic disease that is asymptomatic for decades
2
Q
What are the predominant arties it affects?
A
- Coronary
- Renal
- Aortic
- Femoral
- Carotid
- Cerebral arteries
3
Q
What could happen as an end result of athersclerosis?
A
- Chronic gradual narrowing of the arteries can eventually cause ischemia
- Acute plaque rupture and subsequent thrombus formation can cause acute infarction
4
Q
How does atherosclerosis form a fixed blood clot?
A
- Calcium precipitate from the bloodstream into the arterial walls
Causes arteriosclerosis: which is a thickening and stiffening of the arterial walls greatly reduces the elasticity of the arteries
5
Q
What conditions is atherosclerosis the main underlying cause of?
A
- Angina
- MI
- Heart failure
- Aortic
- Aneurysm and dissection
- Peripheral vascular disorders
- Stroke
