Wednesday, April 27, 2011

April 27 Lecture

Aurelius

Arteriosclerosis
  • medial sclerosis
  • arteriolarsclerosis - arterioles (<0.3mm diameter) - seen in malignant hypertension (thick intima)
  • atherosclerosis - larger arteries (most often aorta) also coronary arteries, cerebral arteries, etc.
    • deposition of atheromas common at bifurcation of arteries (favored by turbulent flow)
    • microscopic appearance - all 3 layers are affected
      • media - loss of smooth muscle, replaced with collagen and ground substance
      • adventitia - fibrous thickening, inflammation
      • intima - deposition of atheromatous plaque - receptors for LDL catch LDL in circulation.  Monocytes also enter intima (renamed macrophages once in intima).  macrophages eat LDL and become "foam cells".   fibrous cap formed.
    • emboli - from broken plaques. 
    • aneurysm
      • dissecting - tear in intima = double barrelled blood vessel - seen in Marfan's
      • arherosclerotic - > 5cm at risk for rupture
    • coronary artery atherosclerosis - normally epicardial arteries involved (not intramusclular arteries)
      • supply/demand properties (e.g., shovelling snow MIs)
      • MI common with 70% narrowing of coronary artery (esp. if narrowing is acute)
        • enlarged heart dangerous - one capillary serves one myocyte
        • damage to muscle takes days to weeks to appear; scarring occurs after 2 months

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