MEDRADSC 1B03 Lecture Notes - Lecture 30: Coronary Circulation, Peripheral Artery Disease, Hypercholesterolemia
3 Sep 2018
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Elasticity is lost, the walls become thick & hard, & the lumen gradually narrows & may become obstructed. Leads to diffuse ischemia & necrosis in various tissues, such as the kidneys, heart, brain. Unaffected artery: smooth, & the openings to branch arteries are clearly defined. Affected artery: very rough, elevated surface, w loose pieces of plaque & thrombus, & the openings to branching arteries are blocked. Atheromas are blockages that form primarily in the large arteries (aorta & iliac arteries, coronary arteries, & carotid arteries) at points of turning (bifurcations) where there is turbulent blood flow; fast flow wears down the walls. Process begins w endothelial injury in the artery at a very young age. Causes inflammation in the area; wbc (monocytes & macrophages) & lipids accumulate in the intima of the artery & in the media (muscle layer) Platelets adhere to the rough, damaged surface of the arterial wall, forming a thrombus & partial obstruction of the artery.
