Atheroma

• What does most cardiovascular disease start with?

  Atheroma formation
• What is the wall of an artery made up of?

  Several layers
• What is the endothelium?

  inner lining
• What is the endothelium of an artery like?

  Usually smooth and unbroekn
• Give an example of how damage can occur to the endothelium?

  By high blood pressure
• What happens if damage occurs to the endothelium?

  White blood cells and lipids from the blood clump together under the lining to form fatty streaks

  OVER TIME, more white blood cells, lipids and CONNECTIVE TISSUE build up and harden to form a fibrous plaque called an atheroma
• what does the atheroma/plaque do?

  Partially blocks the lumen of the artery and restricts blood flow, which causes blood pressure to increase
• What is CHD?


  Coronary heart disease
• What is coronary heart disease?

  A type of cardiovascular disease
• When does CHD occur?

  when the coronary arteries have lots of atheromas in them, which restricts blood flow to the heart muscle.
• What can CHD lead to?

  Myocardial infarction
• What do atheromas increase the risk of?

  aneurysm and thrombosis
• What are 2 types of disease that affect the arteries?

  Aneurysm

  Thrombosis