Healed Infarct

1.    What pathological process does this slide show?

       Myocardial infarction

2.    What are the key histopathological features?

        Fibrosis: presence of fibroblasts, scar tissue intermittent with normal cardiac fibres; following the course of the blood supply but otherwise haphazardly arranged.

3.    What does the affected area in the myocardium look pale microscopically?

        Lack of myoglobin which is present in the normal cardiac muscle fibres.

4.    How old is this lesion?

        It is an old lesion with a high degree of scar tissue and little bleeding, exudates and macrophages / leukocytes

5.    When is the damage myocardium most vulnerable to rupture (least resistant to pressure)?

        Periods of stress to the heart e.g. heavy exercise when there is a need to     increase cardiac output.

6.    How might the scarred area affect the function of the heart as a whole?

       Decreased pumping ability of the heart as scar tissue has low contractility as     compared to normal cardiac fibres.

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Copyright � Joseph Ong 2003