heart and blood vessels

Question 1

define atheroma

Answer 1

The build up of fatty material on the inside wall of an artery

Question 2

define atherosclerosis

Answer 2

progressive narrowing and hardening within an artery potentially resulting in a complete blockage

Question 3

where does atheroma usually affect?

Answer 3

lower abdominal aorta, coronary arteries, popliteral arteries, internal carotid arteries, vessels of circles of willis

Question 4

causes of endothelium injury?

Answer 4

hyperlipidaemia, disturbed flow, smoking and hypertension

Question 5

causes of atherosclerosis?

Answer 5

when excess plasma lipids accumulate in arterial walls, causing the formation of lipid-rich plaques

Question 6

stages of plaque formation?

Answer 6

activated platelets, deposition of chemokines on endothelial cells, adhesion of monocytes, monoctyes migrate and transform into macrophages, macrophages ingest LDLs, plaque formation

Question 7

a plaque in the coronary artery may lead too….

Answer 7

heart attack, angina

Question 8

a plaque in the aorta may lead too…

Answer 8

aneurysm due to weakening of the wall

Question 9

a plaque in the carotid artery may lead too…

Answer 9

narrowing of the artery causing stroke

Question 10

what causes ischaemic heart disease?

Answer 10

an imbalance between the supply and demand of the heart for oxygenated blood

Question 11

risk factors for ischaemic heart disease?

Answer 11

family history, make sex, age, genetic factors, ACE gene mutation, hyperlipidaemia, cigarette smoking, hypertension, diabetes, lack of exercise, obesity, heavy alcohol consumption

Question 12

signs and symptoms of Ischaemic heart disease?

Answer 12

chest pain, SOB, palpitations, syncope, nauseas, sweating, pale

Question 13

what are LDL’s

Answer 13

low density lipoproteins - bad cholesterol delivered to peripheral tissues

Question 14

what are HDL’s

Answer 14

high density lipoproteins - good cholesterol that gets transported to the liver to be excreted in bile

Question 15

what is heart failure?

Answer 15

when the heart is unable to pump blood at the rate required for normal functioning. this causes the heart to compensate leading to cardiac hypertrophy and dilation

Question 16

equation for cardiac output

Answer 16

heart rate X stroke volume

Question 17

causes of heart failure?

Answer 17

IHD, hypertension, arrhythmias, valvular heart disease, cardiomyopathy, congenital heart disease

Question 18

signs and symptoms of heart failure on left side?

Answer 18

SOB, fatigue, raised JVP, pulmonary oedema, cardiomegaly, pleural effusions, pitting oedema

Question 19

signs and symptoms of heart failure on right side?

Answer 19

raised JVP, hepatomegaly, ascites, peripheral pitting / oedema,

Question 20

function of the heart valves?

Answer 20

regulate blood flow in one direction

Question 21

what are the four valves of the heart?

Answer 21

mitral, aortic, pulmonary, tricuspid

Question 22

what is stenosis?

Answer 22

occurs when the valves are narrowed, it impedes forward flow

Question 23

describe regurgitation

Answer 23

a leaky valve tat allows reverse flow

Question 24

what is a vegetation?

Answer 24

abnormal tissue growth on valve (clot or bacteria) leading to stenosis or regurgitation

Question 25

signs & symptoms of valvular heart disease?

Answer 25

same as for heart failure, as well as syncope, stroke, systemic emboli, arrhythmias, cardiac murmur

Question 26

triad of symptoms of aortic stenosis?

Answer 26

angina, SOB, syncope

Question 27

causes of mitral stenosis? clinical features?

Answer 27

rheumatic fever. features; pulmonary hypertension, L atrial and R ventricular hypertrophy, murmur

Question 28

clinical features of mitral incompetence?

Answer 28

murmur, haemodynamic effect

Question 29

clinical features of aortic stenosis?

Answer 29

murmur, left ventricular hypertrophy or failure, angina, syncope, sudden death

Question 30

clinical features of aortic incompetence?

Answer 30

murmur, collapsing pulse, angina, left ventricular failure

Question 31

pathological cause of endocarditis?

Answer 31

rheumatic disease, bacteria, prosthetic heart valves, calcific heart disease, IV drug use

Question 32

clinical features of endocarditis? (signs and symptoms)

Answer 32

malaise, clubbing, cardiac murmur, arthralgia, pyrexia, skin lesions, splenomegaly, haematuria, glomerulonephritis

Question 33

common cause of endocarditis infections on left and right side?

Answer 33

left side; streptococci infection affecting abnormal valves. right side; staph aureus affecting normal valves.

Question 34

symptoms of endocarditis?

Answer 34

fever, weight loss, malaise, SOB, leg swelling, orthopnoea, sepsis, emboli

Question 35

what is cardiomyopathy?

Answer 35

disease of the heart muscle. 3 types; dilated, hypertrophic or restrictive.

Question 36

which organs may be affected by hypertension?

Answer 36

blood vessels, heart, kidney, eyes (retina), brain

Question 37

what is an aneurysm?

Answer 37

a localised abnormal dilation of a blood vessel

Question 38

types of aneurysm?

Answer 38

atherosclerotic, aortic, berry, micro-aneurysm, syphilitic, mycotic (infective)

Question 39

symptoms of pulmonary embolism?

Answer 39

pleuritic chest pain, breathlessness, calf swelling, syncope/collapse, sudden death

Question 40

describe septal defect in congenital heart disease?

Answer 40

a hole between the right and left sides of the heart, commonly atrial but can be ventricular.

Question 41

why does septal defect cause a problem?

Answer 41

because pressure in the right side of the heart increases until blood moves to the left side- this means blood is not oxygenated before it gets sent around the body.