Myocardial infarction

    Cardiovascular Physiology Concepts
                                    Richard E. Klabunde, Ph.D.

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Arrhythmias

Cardiac Valve Disease

Coronary Artery Disease

Edema

Heart Failure

Hypertension

Peripheral Artery Disease

Click here for information on Cardiovascular Physiology Concepts, published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (200 5)

Myocardial Infarction

Infarction is irreversible damage to myocardial tissues caused by prolonged ischemia/hypoxia and by reperfusion-induced injury. The damaged tissue is initially composed of a necrotic core surrounded by a marginal (or border) zone that can recover or become irreversibly damaged. The border zone may be an important site of arrhythmogenesis. Collateral blood flow is an important determinant of infarct size and whether or not the border zone becomes irreversibly damaged.

Infarcted tissue does not contribute to tension generation during systole, and therefore can alter ventricular systolic and diastolic function and disrupt electrical activity. Long-term consequences include ventricular remodeling (e.g., development of compensatory hypertrophy), ventricular failure, arrhythmias and sudden death.

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RK Revised 04/06/2007

DISCLAIMER: These materials are for educational purposes only, and are not a source of medical decision-making advice.