Atherosclerosis Basics
This type of cell proliferates and produces extracellular matrix in plaques
What are smooth muscle cells
This structure forms over a lipid core and determines plaque stability.
what is fibrous plaque
This imbalance between oxygen supply and demand defines myocardial ischemia
What is reduced coronary perfusion?
This defines irreversible myocardial cell death due to prolonged ischemia
What is myocardial infarction?
This process results in partial or complete occlusion of a coronary artery.
What is thrombosis?
This layer of the artery is first affected in early atherosclerosis
What is the intima
Plaque rupture exposes this thrombogenic material to circulating blood
what is necrotic lipid core
This metabolic shift occurs in ischemic myocardial cells
What is anaerobic metabolism?
This zone of infarction is the first region affected in MI.
What is the subendocardium?
This ultimate complication occurs when blood flow is not restored after plaque rupture.
what is myocardial infarction
The fatty streak is primarily composed of these cells.
What are foam cells
This event triggers platelet adhesion and thrombus formation after plaque rupture
what is endothelial disruption
This byproduct accumulates during ischemia, contributing to chest pain.
What is lactic acid?
This type of necrosis is characteristic of myocardial infarction after 4 hours
What is coagulative necrosis?
in myocardial infarction due to occulsion of the LAD, how would you expect the mean electrical axis to change
what is left axis deviation
oxidized LDL can show this coloring on histology
what is yellow-brown (due to lipofushion)
This type of plaque is more prone to rupture due to a thin fibrous cap
what is vulnerable plaque
This ion imbalance during ischemia contributes to arrhythmias.
What is calcium overload?
These biomarkers are released into the bloodstream after myocardial injury.
what are troponins
This reversible condition occurs if ischemia is brief and non-lethal.
what is myocardial stunning/hibernation
This process begins with endothelial injury and lipid accumulation in arterial walls
what is atherosclerosis
This inflammatory process weakens the fibrous cap of plaques.
What is macrophage-mediated degradation
This cellular structure fails early in ischemia, impairing contraction
What is the mitochondria?
This electrical abnormality may indicate transmural infarction.
what is ST elevation
This adaptive response provides alternative blood flow in chronic ischemia.
What is collateral vessel formation?