Atherosclerosis
By Terence Q Coleman
What is atherosclerosis?
Athersclerosis starts when the lining of the artery (the endothelium) is damaged or irritated in some way. Fatty substances, cholesterol, cellular waste products, calcium and other substances then start to accumulate around the site of injury / irritation, which in turn causes a thickening of the artery wall. This in turn leads to deposition of plague (a fatty substance). Thickening of the wall of a larger artery is called atheroma.
Plaque can build up sufficiently to significantly reduce blood flow through the artery. However, if the plaque becomes fragile and raptures, it causes blood clots (emboil) to develop, which can then block the blood flow or break off and travel to another part of the body.
Raquel Billiones has a PhD in Biology and has over 15 years experience as a researcher, scientific English teacher, and medical writer. Since 2006, she has been a freelance WAHM specializing in medical writing and scientific documentation. 
