Metabolic, Cardiovascular Disease Flashcards
(139 cards)
Atherosclerosis
Disease affecting the innermost layer of large and medium side arteries
Plaques or atheroma which are deposits of fibrous tissues and lipids
Tunica intima
Endothelial cells separated by tight junction, scattered myointimal cells
A basement membrane underlying ECs. Have tight junctions and a thin cytoplasm for gas exchange
Functions of tunica intima
Regulation of blood flow
Barrier function
Blood clotting
Inflammation and immune function
Angiogenesis
Regulate BP
Tunica Media
Smooth muscle cell layers
Regulate flow by contraction and stabilise EC by secreting ECM and activating TGF-B
Elastic lamina layers - assist continuous flow
Tunica externa
Connective tissue containing:
Fibroblasts
Leukocytes
Nerves
Lymphatics
Blood vessels
Arterioles
small branches within tissues
Muscular arteries
e.g coronary arteries
media largely of smooth muscle cells
few elastic fibres
separate internal/external elastic laminae
Large elastic arteries
Aorta and common carotid
Prominent elastic laminae in their media
Internal/external elastic laminae continuous
Exposed to high pulsatile pressures
Elastic recoil assists the continuous flow
Aetiology of atherosclerosis
Still not completely understood
Four major positive risk factors of atherosclerosis
Hyperlipidaemia
Cigarette smoking
Hypertension
Diabetes mellitus
Negative risk factors of atherosclerosis
High levels of circulating HDL
Moderate alcohol consumption
Cardiovascular fitness
Pathogenesis of atherosclerosis
Initiation may involve endothelial cell injury
Progression involves most cellular components of the vessel wall
Atherosclerosis is an example of chronic inflammation
Endothelial cell injury
Caused by haemodynamic force
Chemical insults
Cytokines
May lead to:
ALtered permeability
Adhesion of leukocytes
Activation of thrombosis
Endothelial progenitors are recruited
Leukocyte migration into plaque
Circulating monocytes adhere to endothelial cells and enter the atherosclerotic lesion.
Differentiate into macrophages and ingest large amounts of oxidised lipoproteins and are called foam cells
Die by necrosis or apoptosis and cytoplasmic contents escape into the extracellular space.
Smooth muscle cell activation and migration
Macrophages, platelets and endothelial cells produce growth factors that activate vascular smooth muscle cells.
Smooth muscles migrate and proliferate into the tunica intima through failures of IEL
Lipoprotein entry and oxidation
Oxidised lipoproteins attract monocytes and release cytokines and growth factors. Cause dysfunction and apoptosis in smooth muscle cells, macrophages and endothelial cells
Aneurysm can be caused by…
Mural thrombosis
Embolization
Wall weakening
Occlusion by thrombus can be caused by…
Plaque rupture
Plaque erosion
Plaque hemorrhage
Mural thrombosis
Embolization
Critical stenosis can be caused by
Progressive plaque growth and ischemia
Consequences of atherosclerosis
Atheroma are often silent
Plaques become unstable/vulnerable
- thin fibrous cap at luminal aspect of plaque
- high lipid content of core
- inflammation
causes symptoms due to
- Rupture
-haemorrhage
-thrombosis
-dissection
Common clinical consequences of atherosclerosis
Myocardial infarction
Peripheral vascular disease
Cerebrovascular disease
Haemostasis
Haemostasis is the physiological response of a blood vessel to injury. Serves to prevent blood loss by plugging leaks in injured vessels. In healthy vessels, haemostasis is off to maintain the blood in a fluid state
Endothelial cells inhibit haemostasis by
Physically insulating tissues from blood
Producing enzymatic and chemical inhibitors of platelet activation
Nitric Oxide (NO)
Prostacyclins
Producing antithrombin on their surface which binds and inactivates the coagulation enzyme thrombin
Haemostasis is accomplished between
Endothelial cells
Platelets
Clotting cascade