Week 5 Flashcards
Describe what a unstable plaque is.
- AKA Thin Cap Fibroatheroma
- This type of plaque is more likely to rupture
- More inflammatory cells
Describe what a stable plaque is.
- AKA Thick Cap Firbroatheroma
- Less Likely to rupture because more stable
- Less inflammatory cells
Where does a necrotic core form?
The intima layer where the lipid core forms → becomes necrotic
Describe post occlusion recanalization
Absorption of the thrombus → creates multiple small lumens for blood flow
What is this a picture of?

Thin cap fibroatheroma AKA unstable plaque
What is seen here? What is the white substance in the layers?

Thick cap fibroatheromas AKA stable plaque
The white substances in the layers is the necrotic core
What can be seen here?

Post occlusion recanalization
For nitroglycerin:
- What is the class?
- What are the methods of intake and what effects do they have?
- What is the mechanism of action?
- Class: Nitrate
- Can take sublingually, po, or IV
- PO/SL both work on veins
- IV works on coronary arteries (hence the Nitro drip post-MI)
- MOA: Nitrates → NO @ vessel walls → stimulates guanylate cyclase → produce cGMP → dephosphorylating of MLC → venodilation → decreases preload
- REQUIRE THIOL FOR ACTIVATION
For nitroglycerin:
- What are some side effects?
- What are contraindications to worry about?
- Side Effects:
- Hypotension with reflex tachycardia
- Tolerance can develop
- Contraindications
- Keep in glass bottle (reacts with plastic)
- No Viagra
- Inhibits PDE 5, which allows for no way to terminate action of cGMP, causing it to accumulate → fatal hypotension
For isosorbide mononitrate:
- What is the method of ingestion?
- What class is this drug?
- What is the MOA?
- What are some side effects?
- What is a contraindication?
- Ingested po
- Class: Nitrate
- MOA: NO @ vessel walls → stimulates guanylate cyclase → produce cGMP → dephosphorylating of MLC → venodilation → decreases preload
- Completely bioavailable – no need for metabolism
- Side Effects:
- Hypotension with reflex tachycardia
- Tolerance can develop
- Contraindications:
- No Viagra
- Inhibits PDE 5, which allows for no way to terminate action of cGMP, causing it to accumulate → fatal hypotension
- No Viagra
For -olol drugs:
- What class are these drugs?
- What is their MOA?
- What are some side effects?
- Who are they indicated in?
- Beta-blockers
- MOA:
- Act on beta adrenergic receptors in SA/AV node and vessels
- Decreases HR, contractility, BP (Increasing O2 delivery by increasing diastolic time)
- Side Effects
- Hypotension
- Beta2 blockage is bad for several reasons:
- Inhibits glycogenolysis (beta 2)
- Vasoconstriction
- Bronchoconstriction
- Indicated in people with cardiac conditions
For -DHP drugs:
- What class are these drugs?
- What is their MOA?
- What are some side effects?
- Who are they contraindicated in?
- Calcium channel blockers
- MOA: Works at vessels: blocks Ca2+ from entering cell → blocking constriction of smooth muscles in vessels → arteodilation
- *decreases afterload
- Side Effects: hypotension
- Contraindicated in: patients taking beta blockers
For non-DHP drugs:
- What class are these drugs?
- What is their MOA?
- What are some side effects?
- Who are they contraindicated in?
- Class: calcium channel blockers
- MOA: Works at SA/AV nodes: blocks Ca2+ from entering cells → slows contraction of heart → decreased HR
- Side Effects: hypotension
- Conraindicated in people taking beta blockers
For Ranolazine:
- What class are these drugs?
- What is their MOA? There are two.
- Side effects?
- Contraindications?
- Class: Metabolic modifier (used for patients with angina)
- MOA:
- Inhibits late sodium currents → decreased Ca channel activation → therefore decrease Ca2+ in the cell → less diastolic stress → improved coronary blood flow
- Partial fatty oxidation inhibitor → tissues switches to glucose metabolism → creates more ATP
- *prolongs QT interval
- Side Effects: Dizziness, headaches, nausea
- Contraindications: Metabolized by P450s
For aspirin:
- What is the class?
- What is the MOA?
- What are some side effects?
- What are some contraindications?
- Class: Platelet Aggregation
- MOA: Irreversibly inhibits COX-1/2 → reduces TXA → prevents platelet aggregation
- *COX-1 found in platelets
- Side Effects: GI bleeding/GI irritation
- Contraindications: Patients taking NSAIDS
For clopidogrel:
- What is the class?
- What is the MOA?
- What are some side effects?
- What are some contraindications?
- Class: Platelet aggregation
- MOA: Prodrug that inhibits to the P2Y (ADP receptor) → allows for Prostacyclin to have anti-platelet activity
- Side Effects: rash diarreah, bleeding
- Contraindication: metabolized by CYP540
For Tenecteplase:
- What is the class?
- What is the MOA?
- In what time period should it be administered following an MI?
- What are some side effects?
- What are some contraindications?
- Class: Thrombolytic:
- MOA: Binds to fibrin at clot site → activating plasminogen → degrades fibrous clot
- Administer within 70 minutes
- Side Effects: Bleeding Thrombocytopenia, allergy/hypotension/fever
- Contraindicated: patients with active bleeding
Define what is meant by altered impulse formation and by altered impulse conduction.
- Altered impulse formation = decreased automaticity of SA node
- Altered impulse conduction = conduction block
Explain the ionic process of automaticity.
- Hyperpolarization of SA nodal cell → If (Na+) channels are activated → sloped phase 4 → threshold potential is reached → L-type Ca++ channels open → depolarization → K+ efflux out of the cell →
- What are the native pacemaker) and their characteristics (including bpm)?
- What are the latent pacemaker) and their characteristics (including bpm)?
- Native: SA Node (60-100bpm) because it has faster rate, and its repeated discharges prevent spontaneous firing of other potential pacemaker sites
- Latent: AV node (50-60bpm), Bundle of His (50-60pm), and Purkinje system (30-40bpm)
How the heart rate controlled autonomically? Inhibited and stimulated pathways?
- Cholinergic stimulation
- Hyperpolarizes the cell, causing less depolarization
- Adrenergic stimulation
- Increases the rate of phase 4 diastolic depolarization
- Causes less hyperpolarization of pacemaker cells
- Makes the threshold potential for depolarization more negative (lowers the threshold)
Define normal sinus rhythm.
- Normal Sinus Rhythm = 60-100bpm
- Pw followed by QRS complex
- QRS complex preceded by Pw
- Pw is upright in leads I, II, and III
- The PR interval is between 0.12 seconds and 0.20 seconds
Define sinus bradycardia and sinus tachycardia.
- Sinus Bradycardia = <60bpm
- Sinus Tachycardia = >100bpm
What does conduction block mean?
- Normal rate of conduction is slowed or completely blocked which leads to slowed ventricular depolarization or bradyarrhythmias
















