Fig. 1 shows a section of a coronary artery during treatment for a person with chest pain. Fatty material has made the artery narrow. A surgeon has passed a...
Question 1 Report
Fig. 1 shows a section of a coronary artery during treatment for a person with chest pain. Fatty material has made the artery narrow. A surgeon has passed a small balloon catheter into the artery and is expanding a metal mesh stent. The stent will remain in place after the balloon is removed. The coronary arteries supply blood, glucose and oxygen to the heart muscle cells.
(a) Name the disease in which coronary arteries become narrowed by fatty deposits. [1]
(b) Describe how the balloon and stent treatment can increase the blood supply to the heart muscle. [3]
(c) State two symptoms that may be experienced when the heart muscle receives too little oxygen. [2]
Answer Details
(a) The disease is coronary heart disease, also called CHD. [1 mark]
(b) The balloon is inflated to compress the fatty deposit against the artery wall. The stent then holds the artery open and helps prevent it narrowing again. This widens the lumen, allowing more blood, oxygen and glucose to reach the heart muscle cells. [3 marks]
(c) Any two symptoms are: chest pain or angina, shortness of breath, pain spreading to the arm, jaw or back, tiredness or fatigue, and nausea. [2 marks]
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