atherosclerosis/blood clotting

• Atherosclerosis - Stage 1

  endothelium becomes damaged, risk factor of this is high blood pressure
• Atherosclerosis - Stage 2

  inflammatory response: white blood cells move into artery wall creating foam cells with cholestrol
• Atherosclerosis - Stage 3

  calcium salts + fibrous tissue = plaque and loss of elasticity
• Atherosclerosis - Stage 4

  plaque causes narrowing therefore blood pressure increases
• Blood Clotting - Stage 1

  Platelets change shape and stick to damaged wall, forming platelet plug
• Blood Clotting - Stage 2

  thromboplastin released, in the plasma calcium ions and vitamin K are present
• Blood Clotting - Stage 3

  Prothrombin → Thrombin (enzyme)it catalyses fibrinogen
• Blood Clotting - Stage 4

  Fibrinogen (soluble protein) → fibrin (insoluble protein)
• Atherosclerosis stage 5

  positive feedback occurs as blood pressure increases more plaques build up
• Blood clots stage 5

  fibrin strands form a tangled fibrin mesh which trap red blood cells