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What are the three recognized types of arteriosclerosis?
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cardiovascular disease
This micrograph shows a cross section of a coronary artery narrowed by an atherosclerotic plaque (purplish matter inside the artery). Most heart attacks are caused by the rupture of an atherosclerotic plaque, which triggers the formation of a clot that abruptly blocks blood flow to part of the heart muscle.
There are three recognized types of arteriosclerosis, a chronic disease characterized by the thickening and hardening of arterial walls:1
- Atherosclerosis: The most common and clinically significant form, it involves the accumulation of fatty plaques (atheromas) in the inner layer of large and medium-sized arteries, which can restrict blood flow or lead to dangerous clots.12
- Arteriolosclerosis: This type affects small arteries and arterioles, causing wall thickening that narrows the lumen and potentially leads to ischemia. It is frequently associated with diabetes mellitus and high blood pressure.1
- Monckeberg medial calcific sclerosis: This condition is characterized by calcium deposits in the muscular arteries of individuals over age 50. Unlike the other types, it does not typically narrow the arterial lumen and is generally not considered a clinically significant disease.1