Damage to the heart and arteries

Atheroma, aneurysms, thrombosis and myocardial infarction

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  • Created on: 03-12-12 12:00
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  • Atheroma
    • High blood pressure damages the endothelium. white blood cells & lipids clump together, build up and harden to form a fibrous plaque (atheroma).
    • Partially blocks the artery lumen, restricting blood flow and icreasing blood pressure.
      • Myocardial Infarction
        • This can cause complete artery blockage. The glucose and oxygen supplies are cut off.
        • If a coronary artery is blocked off, a part of the heart recieves no oxygen or glucose and the muscles begin to die. Heart attack.
    • Atheroma plaques narrow and weaken arteries, and narrow arteries to increase blood pressure.
      • Aneurysm
        • Blood travels through a weakened area at high pressure, pushing inner artery layers through the outerelastic layer to form a balloon like swelling.
    • Atheroma causes rupture in the endothelium, leaving a rough surface.
      • Thrombosis
        • Platelets and fibrin accumulate the damage site to form a thrombus (blood clot).
        • This can cause complete artery blockage. The glucose and oxygen supplies are cut off.

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