Atherosclerosis

Aim: I can explain what atherosclerosis is

and describe the events that lead to this
condition.
 What is Atherosclerosis?

• Arteriosclerosis is a general term for the

thickening and hardening of arteries.
• The name comes from the Greek words
athero (meaning gruel or paste) and
sclerosis (hardness).
• Some hardening of arteries normally
occurs when people grow older.
 What is Atherosclerosis?

• Fatty substances, cholesterol, cellular

waste products, calcium and fibrin (a
clotting material in the blood) build up in the
inner lining of an artery.
• The buildup that results is called plaque.
Atherosclerosis restricts blood
flow in the vessels effected…
 Micrographs

Normal Artery Artery with Severe Atherosclerosis

How does atherosclerosis start?
• It's a complex process. Exactly how
atherosclerosis begins or what causes it isn't
exactly known. Many scientists think
atherosclerosis starts because the innermost
layer of the artery (endothelium) becomes
damaged. Three possible causes of damage to
the arterial wall are:
1. Elevated levels of cholesterol and triglyceride in the
blood
2. High blood pressure
3. Cigarette smoke
The damaged endothelium initiates
an immune response - inflammation
Development of Atherosclerosis
White blood cells in
artery wall release
chemicals which
causes a build up of
cholesterol

Atheroma
(Cholesterol Deposit)
 Development of Plaques
(Positive Feedback)
• Because of the endothelial damage, over time  
fats, cholesterol, platelets, cellular debris and
calcium are deposited in the artery wall, a
plaque is formed.

• This plaque narrows the artery leading to a

rise in blood pressure.

• Raised blood pressure can further damage

artery walls thus causing more plaques to
form.
 Why does the blood clot in Arteries?

•Two things that can happen where plaque occurs

are:
–Bleeding (hemorrhage) into the plaque
–Formation of a blood clot (thrombus) on the plaque's
surface
 Under normal
conditions if a
blood vessel wall
is damaged a
clot forms to seal
the wound
 Thrombosis
• Platelets in the blood become activated &
stick together when they are exposed to
collagen.
• Atherosclerosis can slow down the blood
flow and damage the vessel wall enough
to trigger the clotting process.
 Clotting Process
(Release Thromboplastin)
(Calcium + Vitamin K in Plasma)

(Soluble) (Insoluble)
Electron Micrograph of a Blood Clot
What parts of the body are effected?
If the artery wall is thickened sufficiently,  
the diameter of the artery will be reduced and less
blood will flow, thus decreasing the oxygen supply.

• If the oxygen supply to the heart muscle is

reduced, a heart attack can occur.
• If the oxygen supply to the brain is cut off, a
stroke can occur.
• If the oxygen supply to the extremities occurs,
gangrene can result.
Development of Atherosclerosis

• Atherosclerosis affects large and medium-

sized arteries.
• The type of artery and where the plaque
develops varies with each person.
• Atherosclerosis is a slow, progressive
disease that may start in childhood.
• In some people this disease progresses
rapidly in their 30’s. In others it doesn't
become threatening until they're in their 50s or
60s.
Why does atherosclerosis only
happen in arteries??????
Researching Cardiovascular
Disease

Aim : To understand the

symptoms and risk factors
associated with CVD
 CVD Presentation
• You will be put into groups and each group
will research a particular aspect of CVD.
• Your group must prepare a 5 min
PowerPoint presentation to be given to the
rest of the class on Thursdays lesson.
• You must also prepare a 1 page summary
of your research to give to the other pupils
in the class.
 Websites

•http://www.bhf.org.uk/
•http://www.stroke.org.uk/?gclid
=CMnX3-vjtIcCFQkkQgod5xIePg
 TEST on Thursday

Structure of the heart, blood

vessels, circulatory systems & the
cardiac cycle.