Atherosclerosis and blood clottingEdexcel International A Level Biology: Mind map

Exam questions on Atherosclerosis and blood clotting

1. A post-mortem examination of the coronary artery of a man who died of a heart attack showed a raised, fatty deposit in the artery wall that had narrowed the lumen.
   Explain how atherosclerosis can lead to raised blood pressure.2 marks
2. Blood clotting is a series of reactions. In a laboratory demonstration, a technician starts the clotting of a plasma sample by adding thromboplastin and calcium ions.
   Explain why it is important that fibrinogen is soluble but fibrin is insoluble.2 marks
3. A 62-year-old woman with raised blood pressure and a high blood cholesterol concentration is admitted to hospital with a heart attack. An angiogram shows that one of her coronary arteries is blocked by a blood clot at the site of an atheromatous plaque.
   Explain how the atheromatous plaque could have led to the formation of the blood clot.3 marks