Cardiovascular Pathophysiology
a. Coronary Heart Disease
b. Hypertension
c. Hyperlipidemia
d. Stroke
Terms
1. Hypertension: consistent elevation of systemic arterial blood pressure. High dietary
sodium intake -> ↑ hypertension
2. Homocysteine: ↑ levels of homocysteine in the blood is associated with
atherosclerosis and blood clots. caused by stress
3. Growth factor: released by macrophages which stimulates smooth muscle cell
proliferation -> produce collagen -> migrate over the fatty streak -> fibrous plaque which
calcifies and obstructs blood flow
4. Natriuretic peptides: function as vasodilators and regulators of Na and H2O excretion
(natriuresis and diuresis). It is stimulated by ↑ pressure or diastolic vol. in the heart
-it requires adequate potassium, calcium, and magnesium to function properly
5. Endothelins: endothelins binds to the type A receptor causes vasodilation and
natriuresis. It also binds to type B receptor cause vasoconstriction plus Na and water
retention.
6. Prostacyclin: vasodilator that is produced by the actions of COX 1 and 2 on
arachidonic acid. It opposes clot formation, decreases platelet activity, and inhibiting the
release of growth factors from macrophages and the endothelial cells.
, 7. Hyperlipidemia: high levels of lipids circulating in the blood. Lipids can enter the walls
of the arteries and increase your risk of developing atherosclerosis -> stroke, heart
attack, amputation
8. Monocytes: big WBC that fight invaders by engulf it and they they turn into a foamy
cell -> accumulates and forms a lesion called a fatty streak
9. Macrophages: oxidized LDL causes additional adhesion molecule and recruitment of
monocytes and differentiate into macrophages.
-Macrophages penetrate the intima and they engulf oxidized LDL
10. Nitric oxide (endothelium derived relaxing factor): an intercellular and intracellular
signaling molecule produced in endothelial cells. A vasodilator and inhibitor of smooth
muscle proliferation.
11. Autoregulation: enables organs to regulate blood flow by altering the resistance
(diameter) in their arteries. It helps ensure constant coronary blood flow despite shifts in
the perfusion pressure within the stated range.
12. Autonomic regulation: coronary vessels contain sympathetic alpha and beta
adrenergic and parasympathetic neural receptors -> autoregulation.
-During exercise the beta receptors vasodilate smaller coronary arteries -> increase in
blood flow and alpha adrenergic receptors in larger arteries cause vasoconstriction to
direct the blood flow to the inner layers of the myocardium
13. Stress
14. Cortisol: maintains normal blood pressure, has pro inflammatory and anti
inflammatory effects. released by adrenal gland
-it helps activate us and arouses us. long term arousal is not good -> body is exhausted
a. Coronary Heart Disease
b. Hypertension
c. Hyperlipidemia
d. Stroke
Terms
1. Hypertension: consistent elevation of systemic arterial blood pressure. High dietary
sodium intake -> ↑ hypertension
2. Homocysteine: ↑ levels of homocysteine in the blood is associated with
atherosclerosis and blood clots. caused by stress
3. Growth factor: released by macrophages which stimulates smooth muscle cell
proliferation -> produce collagen -> migrate over the fatty streak -> fibrous plaque which
calcifies and obstructs blood flow
4. Natriuretic peptides: function as vasodilators and regulators of Na and H2O excretion
(natriuresis and diuresis). It is stimulated by ↑ pressure or diastolic vol. in the heart
-it requires adequate potassium, calcium, and magnesium to function properly
5. Endothelins: endothelins binds to the type A receptor causes vasodilation and
natriuresis. It also binds to type B receptor cause vasoconstriction plus Na and water
retention.
6. Prostacyclin: vasodilator that is produced by the actions of COX 1 and 2 on
arachidonic acid. It opposes clot formation, decreases platelet activity, and inhibiting the
release of growth factors from macrophages and the endothelial cells.
, 7. Hyperlipidemia: high levels of lipids circulating in the blood. Lipids can enter the walls
of the arteries and increase your risk of developing atherosclerosis -> stroke, heart
attack, amputation
8. Monocytes: big WBC that fight invaders by engulf it and they they turn into a foamy
cell -> accumulates and forms a lesion called a fatty streak
9. Macrophages: oxidized LDL causes additional adhesion molecule and recruitment of
monocytes and differentiate into macrophages.
-Macrophages penetrate the intima and they engulf oxidized LDL
10. Nitric oxide (endothelium derived relaxing factor): an intercellular and intracellular
signaling molecule produced in endothelial cells. A vasodilator and inhibitor of smooth
muscle proliferation.
11. Autoregulation: enables organs to regulate blood flow by altering the resistance
(diameter) in their arteries. It helps ensure constant coronary blood flow despite shifts in
the perfusion pressure within the stated range.
12. Autonomic regulation: coronary vessels contain sympathetic alpha and beta
adrenergic and parasympathetic neural receptors -> autoregulation.
-During exercise the beta receptors vasodilate smaller coronary arteries -> increase in
blood flow and alpha adrenergic receptors in larger arteries cause vasoconstriction to
direct the blood flow to the inner layers of the myocardium
13. Stress
14. Cortisol: maintains normal blood pressure, has pro inflammatory and anti
inflammatory effects. released by adrenal gland
-it helps activate us and arouses us. long term arousal is not good -> body is exhausted
