Coronary Arteries and Heart Disease

What do the coronary arteries primarily supply to the heart muscle?

What is atherosclerosis primarily caused by?

Which condition is described as hardening and narrowing of the arteries?

What role do the coronary arteries play in the circulatory system?

How does the contraction of the ventricles affect the coronary arteries?

The process leading to plaque buildup in arteries is similar to what everyday situation?

Which of the following factors can damage the inner layer of arteries, potentially leading to atherosclerosis?

What happens as plaque builds up inside arteries?

What is the primary cause of coronary heart disease?

What happens during a myocardial infarction?

Which condition describes the heart's inability to pump enough blood to meet the body's needs?

How does nitroglycerin alleviate angina symptoms?

What is a potential consequence of plaque buildup in the coronary arteries?

What is a possible symptom of congestive heart failure affecting the left side of the heart?

Which factors can lead to congestive heart failure?

Coronary Arteries

Coronary arteries supply blood to the heart muscle.
These arteries extend from the aorta, delivering oxygen-rich blood directly to the heart muscle.
Coronary arteries are relatively narrow and compress during ventricular contraction, expanding during relaxation.

Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is the hardening and narrowing of arteries due to plaque buildup, affecting any artery in the body.
It begins with damage to the inner layer of arteries due to factors like smoking or high blood pressure.
Fatty materials, such as cholesterol, accumulate and grow within the artery, obstructing blood flow.

Coronary Heart Disease

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a narrowing of the coronary arteries due to plaque buildup.
This obstruction restricts oxygen-rich blood flow to the heart muscle.
Angina, chest pain caused by insufficient blood flow to the heart muscle, can result.
Nitroglycerin is used to dilate blood vessels, increasing blood flow and reducing angina.

Heart Attack

Complete blockage of a coronary artery or plaque detachment and subsequent blockage of smaller arteries can lead to a heart attack.
A heart attack, also known as myocardial infarction, is the death of heart muscle due to lack of oxygen.

Congestive Heart Failure

Congestive heart failure occurs when the heart can't effectively pump blood to meet the body's needs.
This progressive condition weakens the heart muscle over time.
It can result from CHD, heart damage, or conditions that overwork the heart, like high blood pressure.
Left-sided failure causes blood to back up in the lungs, leading to breathing difficulties.
Right-sided failure causes blood to back up in the body, resulting in swelling in the feet, ankles, and legs.

This quiz explores coronary arteries, their function, and the implications of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. It covers how these conditions affect blood flow to the heart muscle and the potential treatments. Test your knowledge about the cardiovascular system and its disorders.