Instructions and notes for

Fat-Furred Artery model

Aim

To demonstrate how atherosclerosis hardens, furs up and blocks the arteries and to explain the role of smoking in accelerating and aggravating the build-up of fatty deposits in the blood vessels.

Contents

1. Double walled artery model made of latex and cloth.
2. ‘Fat mix’ – use water only as oil will damage the latex artery.
3. Icing bag and nozzle for filling the artery with the ‘fat mix’.
4. Ashtray for squeezing the ‘fat’ into.

Method

1.      Take the artery model which has 2 layers or walls.  The outside layer is beige coloured but you can turn the artery inside out and use the pink wall if you prefer. 

2.      Mix the ‘fat’ in a bowl.  Use about 2 parts of the mix to 3 parts water.  Put 2 level tablespoons of the mix into a bowl and slowly pour on water (about 3 tablespoons full) and keep stirring to make the mix moist but thick. It will continue to swell and absorb water so allow a few minutes to get the mix right.

3.      Cold water can be used to mix the ‘fat’ but hot water helps to speed up the swelling of the mix. 

4.      It should not be runny as it will ooze out of the artery.  It should be moist but thick and able to be squeezed out of the artery.   Experiment to get the right consistency.    

5.      Spoon the fat mix into the icing bag containing the nozzle at the pointed end.  Put the nozzle into one end of the artery and squeeze the fat mix inside the artery.  You can fill the whole artery or just one end. 

6.      To demonstrate the fat filled artery, hold the artery up and squeeze the artery in the middle and work down to push out the ‘fat’ onto a dish or ashtray.

7.      Explain how smoking affects the fatty build-up in the blood vessels. (See notes)

8.      Wash out and dry the blood vessel.  You can turn the blood vessel inside out to wash it.  To keep the blood vessel in shape, insert a roll of paper.  Wash out the bowl and the icing bag and nozzle.

9.      The artery is delicate and will perish over time.  Spares of the artery and the other accessories are available.   

Facts about smoking and furred-up arteries (atherosclerosis)

Cardio-vascular disease is an umbrella term to cover a range of problems related to the working of the heart and circulatory system.  There are three main risk factors for developing cardio-vascular disease:  smoking; high cholesterol levels in the blood; high blood pressure.  Smoking acts synergistically with the other risk factors to greatly increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. 

Atherosclerosis

Smoking aggravates and accelerates the development of atherosclerotic lesions (a collection of cholesterol and other matter) in the arterial walls. Atherosclerosis (also known as arteriosclerosis, plaque or hardening of the arteries) narrows the arteries, gradually impairing the blood flow and makes the arteries harder, less elastic and more liable to rupture. It is more likely to cause a blood clot as well.  A sudden blockage in an artery can lead to a fatal heart attack, a stroke or gangrene of the leg.  

Smoking also increases the heart rate and blood pressure.  This raises the body’s demand for oxygen but at the same time smoking deprives the body of oxygen through the effects of carbon monoxide.  This makes the heart work even harder to meet the body’s needs and can lead to ischaemia or lack of oxygen due to shortage of blood.  This results in angina or chest pain.

Coronary heart disease

Blockages in the arteries around the heart cause coronary heart disease.  This results in a heart attack due to myocardial infarction (death of vital heart muscle) or angina.  Heavy smokers are 2 or 3 times more likely to die from coronary heart disease than non-smokers.

Stroke

Smoking is a cause of stroke, which is damage to the brain due to a blockage in an artery or the escape of blood into the brain tissue from a damaged artery.  The blockage may be caused by atherosclerosis (fatty deposits in the blood vessels) or the rupture of a blood vessel at a point weakened by atherosclerosis.  Smoking increases the risk of strokes, and heavy smokers are 2 to 4 times more likely to have a stroke. 

Atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease

When the blood vessels in the feet, legs or hands and arms become blocked by fatty deposits it can cause extreme pain or claudication.   It can lead to death of the part of the limb and to amputation due to gangrene. Smoking is the main cause of peripheral vascular disease.   Stopping smoking can help to reverse the damage. 

Aortic aneurysm

The aorta is the main blood vessel carrying blood and oxygen to the body.  Aortic aneurysm is a weakening of the wall of the aorta due to atherosclerotic lesions. The wall may eventually stretch and burst.  Smokers are 8 times more at risk of aortic aneurysm than non-smokers.