Cardiovascular Pathophysiology Questions with Answers
(100% Correct Answers)
What is arteriosclerosis? —Answer: abnormal thickening & hardening of the vessel walls
In arteriosclerosis smooth muscle cells & collagen fibers migrate where? —Answer: tunica
intima
What is atherosclerosis? —Answer: thickening & hardening caused by accumulation of lipid-
laden macrophages in the arterial wall (plaque development)
What is the progression of atherosclerosis? —Answer: - inflammation of endothelium
- cellular proliferation
- macrophage migration
- LDL oxidation (foam cell formation)
- fatty streak
- fibrous plaque
- complicated plaque
What is orthostatic (postural) hypotension? —Answer: decrease in both systolic & diastolic
blood pressure upon standing
What causes orthostatic (postural) hypotension? —Answer: lack of normal BP compensation in
response to gravitational changes on the circulation
What is an aneurysm? —Answer: local dilation or outpouching of a vessel wall or cardiac
chamber
Fusiform & circumferential aneurysms are (true/false) aneurysms? —Answer: true
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, Saccular aneurysms are (true/false) aneurysms? —Answer: false
What is a thrombus formation? —Answer: blood clot that remains attached to the vessel wall
What is a thromboembolus? —Answer: a clot that breaks off & lodges elsewhere in a smaller
blood vessel & blocks
What is an embolism? —Answer: bolus matter that is in circulation in the bloodstream
What are characteristics of an embolism? —Answer: - dislodged thrombus
- air bubble
- amniotic fluid
- aggregate of fat
- bacteria
- cancer cells
- foreign substance
What is peripheral artery disease? —Answer: atherosclerotic disease of the arteries that perfuse
the limbs
What is intermittent claudication? —Answer: obstruction of arterial blood flow in the
iliofemoral vessels resulting in pain w/ambulation
What population of people does Buerger's disease occur in? —Answer: young men who smoke
What is Buerger's disease? —Answer: imflammatory disease of peripheral arteries resulting in
the formation of nonatherosclerotic lesions
What does Buerger's disease do do the arteries? —Answer: obliterates the small & medium-
sized arteries
What are symptoms of Buerger's disease? —Answer: slow, sluggish blood flow
© 2025 All rights reserved
(100% Correct Answers)
What is arteriosclerosis? —Answer: abnormal thickening & hardening of the vessel walls
In arteriosclerosis smooth muscle cells & collagen fibers migrate where? —Answer: tunica
intima
What is atherosclerosis? —Answer: thickening & hardening caused by accumulation of lipid-
laden macrophages in the arterial wall (plaque development)
What is the progression of atherosclerosis? —Answer: - inflammation of endothelium
- cellular proliferation
- macrophage migration
- LDL oxidation (foam cell formation)
- fatty streak
- fibrous plaque
- complicated plaque
What is orthostatic (postural) hypotension? —Answer: decrease in both systolic & diastolic
blood pressure upon standing
What causes orthostatic (postural) hypotension? —Answer: lack of normal BP compensation in
response to gravitational changes on the circulation
What is an aneurysm? —Answer: local dilation or outpouching of a vessel wall or cardiac
chamber
Fusiform & circumferential aneurysms are (true/false) aneurysms? —Answer: true
© 2025 All rights reserved
, Saccular aneurysms are (true/false) aneurysms? —Answer: false
What is a thrombus formation? —Answer: blood clot that remains attached to the vessel wall
What is a thromboembolus? —Answer: a clot that breaks off & lodges elsewhere in a smaller
blood vessel & blocks
What is an embolism? —Answer: bolus matter that is in circulation in the bloodstream
What are characteristics of an embolism? —Answer: - dislodged thrombus
- air bubble
- amniotic fluid
- aggregate of fat
- bacteria
- cancer cells
- foreign substance
What is peripheral artery disease? —Answer: atherosclerotic disease of the arteries that perfuse
the limbs
What is intermittent claudication? —Answer: obstruction of arterial blood flow in the
iliofemoral vessels resulting in pain w/ambulation
What population of people does Buerger's disease occur in? —Answer: young men who smoke
What is Buerger's disease? —Answer: imflammatory disease of peripheral arteries resulting in
the formation of nonatherosclerotic lesions
What does Buerger's disease do do the arteries? —Answer: obliterates the small & medium-
sized arteries
What are symptoms of Buerger's disease? —Answer: slow, sluggish blood flow
© 2025 All rights reserved
