What are Some Common Pathological Changes in Cardiovascular Histology?
Several pathological changes can be observed in cardiovascular tissues. Atherosclerosis is characterized by the accumulation of lipid-laden plaques in arterial walls, leading to narrowing and stiffening of the arteries. This can be visualized histologically by the presence of foam cells, a type of macrophage filled with lipids.
Another common condition is myocardial infarction, or heart attack, which results from the obstruction of blood flow to the myocardium. Histologically, this is seen as necrosis (cell death) of cardiac muscle fibers, infiltration of inflammatory cells, and eventual scar tissue formation.
