Answer:
The development of atherosclerosis occurs because damage to the tunica intima- platelets clump together- plaque attaches- arteries narrow
Explanation:
Atherosclerosis consists of a chronic intravascular arterial lesion with fat accumulation in the form of plaques that invade the inner layer of the blood vessel. This produces inflammation, due to the arrival of leukocytes, and activation of the platelets, which leads to formation of the plaque and obstruction of the artery.
For the plaque to exist, there must be damage to the endothelium with loss of its continuity, which leads to
- Damage to the intimate tunic, which promotes fat infiltration.
- The platelets form a thrombus, trying to stop and repair the damage.
- Formation and attachments of the plaque by accumulation of circulating low-density lipoporteins.
- The atheroma -fat plaque- organizes and hardens, surrounding itself with fibrous tissue and producing the narrowing of the artery.
The formation of atheroma plaque is called atheromatosis, and its importance lies in the deficiency of blood flow to tissues or organs that this can produce, as in a myocardial infarction.
