MEDRADSC 3C03 Lecture Notes - Lecture 22: Pulmonary Embolism, Tunica Media, Pulmonary Artery

• School: McMaster University
• Department: Medical Radiation Sciences
• Course: MEDRADSC 3C03
• Professor: Sandra Charbonneau

Document Summary

3 layers: tunica intima: internal layer, tunica media- smooth muscle layer, tunica adventitia or externa: outer layer contains collagen fibers. Veins have thinner walls than the arteries and the smooth muscle layer of the tunica media is not as defined. 70% of our blood supply is in the venous system. Flow dependent on skeletal muscle action, respiratory movements and gravity. Thrombophlebitis and phlebothrombosis: other terms: phlebitis and thromboembolic disease, thrombophlebitis: thrombus in vein where there was inflammation, phlebothrombosis: (deep vein thrombosis) thrombus forms in a vein without inflammation (less firmly attached) may lead to pulmonary thrombosis. Tunica media- smooth muscle layer- much more pronounced than in the vein. Tunica adventitia or externa: outer layer contains collagen fibers. Large vessels are highly elastic in order to adjust to changes in volume of blood (i. e. the aorta) Atherosclerosis: presence of atheroma- plaque consists of lipids, cells, fibrin and cell debris with attached thrombi in large arteries.