Thursday 29 November 2012

CHD development

1. LDLs enter the artery wall
2.macrophages phagotise the LDLs & form foam cells
3.accumulation of foam cells forms fatty streaks
4.fatty streaks are surrounded by fibrous tissue to form a fibrous cap - the build up is now a plaque
5. the artery wall stretches to accomodate the plaque & to ensure the volume of the artery lumen is maintained
6. eventually the plaque build up starts to restrict the lumen & reduce blood flow
7. the reduced size of the lumen increases the pressure of the blood flow
8. the plaque ruptures, releasing the fatty, fibrous & calcium deposits into the lumen
9. this rupture can result in thrombosis (i.e. the formation of a blood clot)
10. the blot clot further restricts the blood flow to the heart muscle (if athersclerosis is occuring in the coronary arteries).

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