Question at position 24 What happens when an atherosclerotic plaque becomes unstable and ruptures?The vessel dilates to improve circulationHDL removes the lipid coreA thrombus can form and block blood flow, causing ischemia or infarctionBlood pressure decreases suddenly

Question

Question at position 24 What happens when an atherosclerotic plaque becomes unstable and ruptures?The vessel dilates to improve circulationHDL removes the lipid coreA thrombus can form and block blood flow, causing ischemia or infarctionBlood pressure decreases suddenly

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

In evaluating what happens when an atherosclerotic plaque becomes unstable and ruptures, we must examine the vascular consequences described by each option.
Option 1: 'The vessel dilates to improve circulation' — This is not the typical immediate result of plaque rupture. Rupture tends to destabilize the plaque and promote thrombosis; dilation is not the primary pathogenic response in this context.
Option 2: 'HDL removes the lipid core' — High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is involved in reverse cholesterol transport, but it does not abruptly remove the lipid core from an acutely ruptured plaque in a way that immediately resolves occlusion. Plaque rupture is more about exposure of thrombogenic material than lipoprotein clearance at the rupture site.
Option 3: 'A thrombus can form and block blood flow, causing ischemia or infarction' — This is the key pathophysiological consequence of plaque rupture. Exposure of thrombogenic lipid core and subendothelial tissue after rupture triggers platelet adhesion, aggregation, and coagulation cascade activation, leading to thrombus formation that can occlude the vessel and result in ischemia or infarction.
Option 4: 'Blood pressure decreases suddenly' — Blood pressure dynamics are influenced by many factors, but plaque rupture itself does not characteristically cause an abrupt, universal sudden drop in blood pressure. The more direct consequence is local thrombosis with possible downstream ischemia, not an immediate systemic hypotension.
Putting the pieces together, the most accurate description of the consequence of plaque rupture is the formation of a thrombus that can occlude blood flow and lead to ischemia or infarction, while the other options describe less direct or inaccurate responses to rupture.

Question at position 24 What happens when an atherosclerotic plaque becomes unstable and ruptures?The vessel dilates to improve circulationHDL removes the lipid coreA thrombus can form and block blood flow, causing ischemia or infarctionBlood pressure decreases suddenly

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