Atherosclerosis

 General description 

Atherosclerosis is a type of arteriosclerosis, and is one of the leading cause of illness and death in the United States and most other Western countries.  It involves the thickening and hardening of arterie, and usually affects large and medium-sized arteries.

 Symptoms 

• Doesn't produce symptoms until the artery is severely restricted or obstructed.

• Chest pain

• Leg cramps

 Pathophysiology 

• May begin in childhoold and often progresses when people grow older.

• Damage begins in the innermost layer of the artery or endothelium.

• Elevated plama cholesterol and triglyceride levels, high blood pressure, and tobacco smoke are major causes of arterial wall damage.

• Plaques (fats, cholesterol, platelets, cellular waste products, calcium and other substances) are deposited in the damaged endothelum.  These deposits further stimulate the cells in the artery walls to produce factors that promote the proliferation of smooth muscle cells and the accumulation of lipids.

• As a consequence, artery's diameter may shrink, resulting in disturbances in blood flow and oxygen delivery to tissues.

 Histopathology 

• Low magnification (1x) view of the artery.

• Higher magnification (10x) view of the artery.  At this level, intima, media, and adventitia are evident.  Blue area in the media represents calcification.

• Higher magnification intima showing cholesterol clefts (needle shape clear spaces).