Atherosclerosis
- Created by: Nadia Morgaine Ullrich
- Created on: 09-10-13 11:44
View mindmap
- Atherosclerosis
- This is a disease process
- it hapens when fatty deposits block arteries and reduce blood flow. this can increase the chance of blood clots which reduce or stop blood flow
- if it happens in the arteries supplying the brain it can result ina stroke
- if it happens in arteries supplying the legs it can result in tissue damage or death and gangrene (decay)
- so how does it happen?
- firstly, the delicate layer of cells lining the artery (endothelium cells) become damaged by toxins from cigarettes or high blood pressure
- this causes an inflammatory response and white blood cells move into the artery wall where they accumulate chemicals from the blood ( mainly cholesterol) building up a soft deposit called atheroma
- calcium salts and fibrous tissues also build up resulting in a hard swelling called plaque on the inner wall of the artery. The artery wall can lose elasticity or harden
- the plawues can cause the artery to narrow, making it harder for the heart to pump blood around the body which in turn raises blood pressure.
- this causes dangerous positive feedback as raised blood pressure caused by plaques created more plaques.
- the plawues can cause the artery to narrow, making it harder for the heart to pump blood around the body which in turn raises blood pressure.
- calcium salts and fibrous tissues also build up resulting in a hard swelling called plaque on the inner wall of the artery. The artery wall can lose elasticity or harden
- this causes an inflammatory response and white blood cells move into the artery wall where they accumulate chemicals from the blood ( mainly cholesterol) building up a soft deposit called atheroma
- firstly, the delicate layer of cells lining the artery (endothelium cells) become damaged by toxins from cigarettes or high blood pressure
- it is unlikely the sufferer will be aware of the problem until the arteries become too narrow to supply the tissues with nutrients and tissues and they stop funcitoning normally
- This is a disease process
Comments
No comments have yet been made