All Week 3

Question 1

Which artery is protected from atherosclerosis?

Answer 1

the internal mammary arteries

Question 2

Which arteries are most often affected by atherosclerosis?

Answer 2

• aorta
• coronary arteries
• peripheral arteries
• carotid arteries

Question 3

The response to injury hypothesis is a theory for how what happens?

Answer 3

atherosclerosis develops

Question 4

What are the steps of the response to injury hypothesis?

Answer 4

• chronic endothelial cell injury
• lipoprotein accumulation
• oxidation of LDL
• inflammatory response and foam cell formation
• adhesion of platelets
• release of cytokines and growth factors causing migration of smooth muscle cells into the intima
• production of ECM by smooth muscle cells
• enhanced accumulation of lipids

Question 5

What are the two best biomarkers for atherosclerosis risk?

Answer 5

LDL and CRP levels

Question 6

Why is CRP a good biomarker for atherosclerosis?

Answer 6

because it is indicative of a widespread vascular inflammatory response

Question 7

What three changes to an atheroma trigger a transition to the clinical phase?

Answer 7

• aneurysm and rupture
• occlusion by thrombus
• critical stenosis

Question 8

Why is angiography not a good estimator of atherosclerosis?

Answer 8

because initial plaque expansion doesn’t narrow the lumen

Question 9

What is a vulnerable plaque?

Answer 9

one that has a thin cap, large lipid core, and is likely to rupture

Question 10

What are the three possible outcomes of plaque rupture?

Answer 10

embolism, thrombosis, or healing

Question 11

What is quantum progression in the context of atheromas/plaques?

Answer 11

growth by healed rupture

Question 12

Plaque aneurysm is common in what vessel?

Answer 12

the aorta

Question 13

Plaque occlusion is most likely in what vessels?

Answer 13

coronary arteries or peripheral arteries

Question 14

Are plaques that are more or less stenotic likely to rupture?

Answer 14

those that are less stenotic are more likely to rupture