Arteriosclerosis

Arteriosclerosis
Arteriosclerosis literally means “hardening of the arteries”; it is a generic term reflecting arterial wall thickening and loss of elasticity. There are three general patterns, with differing clinical and pathologic consequences:

	•	Arteriolosclerosis affects small arteries and arterioles, and may cause downstream ischemic injury. The anatomic variants, hyaline and hyperplastic, were discussed above in relation to hypertension.
	•	Mönckeberg medial sclerosis is characterized by calcific deposits in muscular arteries in persons typically older than age 50. The deposits may undergo metaplastic change into bone. Nevertheless, the lesions do not encroach on the vessel lumen and are usually not clinically significant.
	•	Atherosclerosis, from Greek root words for “gruel” and “hardening,” is the most frequent and clinically important pattern and will now be discussed in detail.