Pathophysiology of Myocardial Infarction

In Myocardial Infarction, inadequate coronary blood flow rapidly results in myocardial ischemia in the affected area. The location and extent of the infarct determine the effects on cardiac function. Ischemia depresses cardiac function and triggers autonomic nervous system responses that exacerbate the imbalance between myocardial oxygen supply and demand. Persistent ischemia results in tissue necrosis and scar tissue formation,...

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Increased Intracranial Pressure

Increased Intracranial Pressure Intracranial pressure (ICP) is the pressure in the skull that results from the volume of three essential components: cerebrospinal fluid(CSF), intracranial blood volume and central nervous system tissue. The normal intracranial pressure is between 5-15 mmHg. This is slightly lower than the mean systemic arterial pressure but considerably higher than venous pressure. The intact cranium is essentially inexpandable containing about 1400 grams ofcentral nervous system (CNS) or brain tissue,...

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Thalassemias

Thalassemias Definition Thalassemia is a group of inherited disorders which is associated with hemoglobin defects. The disorder results in excessive destruction of red blood cells leading to anemia. Types of Thalassemia There are two main types of Thalassemia based on the chain of hemoglobin it affects. These are the following: Beta Thalassemia or Cooley’s anemia – defect in the beta-chain of hemoglobin is present. Alpha Thalassemia – defect in the alpha-chain of hemoglobin is present. Forms of Thalassemia Both...

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