define atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is the accumulation of intracellular and extracellular lipid in the intima and media of large and medium sized arteries
Common sites
normal arterial structure

macroscopic features of atherosclerosis
fatty streak
early age of atheroma

Simple plaque

Complicated plaque

microscopic features: early changes
1) Proliferation of smooth muscle cells
2) Accumulation of foam cells
3) Extracellular lipid

microscopic features: later changes
4) Fibrosis
5) Necrosis
6) Cholesterol cleft- where cholesterol used to be
7) +/- inflammatory cells
8) Disruption of internal elastic lamina
9) Damage extends into media
10) Ingrowth of blood vessels
11) Plaque fissuring

clinical effects of atherosclerosis
ischaemic heart disease
cerebral ischameia
mesenteric ischaemia
abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)
peripheral vascular disease
ischaemic heart disease
Cerebral ischaemia

Mesenteric ischaemia
in which injury to the small intestine occurs due to not enough blood supply

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)
is a localized enlargement of the abdominal aorta such that the diameter is greater than 3 cm or more than 50% larger than normal. They usually cause no symptoms, except during rupture.

peripheral vascular disease

intermittent claudication
painful to walk
Leriche syndrome
Ischaemic rest pain
risk factors of atherosclerosis pathogenesis
age
gender
hyperlipidaemia
cigarette smoking
hypertension
DM
alcohol consumption
infection
Age
Gender
Hyperlipidaemia
lipid in the blood is carried on
lipoproteins
lipoproteins carry
cholesterol and TAG