| Question 8 discussion |
| This heart shows prominent, concentric, left ventricular hypertrophy, a physiological response to a long period of benign hypertension. The patient has probably been an unrecognised hypertensive for many years. In what condition might you find assymetric hypertrophy of the left ventricle? |
| The cause of his death has been given as an intracranial hemorrhage. This includes both hemorrhages inside the brain tissue (intracerebral hemorrhage) and those outside. Epidural, Subdural and Subarachnoid hemorrhages occur within the cranial cavity and are not associated with hypertension. (Rupture of a Berry aneurysm leading to Subarachnoid hemorrhage may be precipitated by a sudden rise in blood pressure but this is not absolutely necessary) Intracerebral hemorrhages associated with hypertension occur when a Charcot Bouchard aneurysm ruptures. These are microaneurysms that are found in small cerebral arteries and are thought to be caused by the hypertension. Rupture of one of these is a common cause of stroke. |
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