Learning Objectives

• Describe atherosclerosis in general - include definition, common locations of atherosclerotic lesions, associated risk factors (emphasise on dyslipidemia) and its consequences on the human body
• Describe the pathogenesis of an atherosclerotic plaque (include endothelial dysfunction, insudation, fatty streak formation, foam cells, plaque progression and plaque rupture)
• Compare and contrast stable vulnerable (unstable) plaques

Atherosclerosis

• what is atherosclerosis?
• where does atherosclerosis commonly occur?
• what are the 3 consequences of atherosclerosis?
• Risk Factors

Atherogenesis

• occurs over many years, mostly as a discontinuous process
• which stages of plaque formation are clinical significant?
• what is endothelial dysfunction?
• what happens in insudation?
• how do foam cells form?
• what is fatty streak formation?
• what happens in plaque progression?
• what are the 2 types of plaque disruption?
• why is atherogenesis more common at bifurcations?