Definitions
Atherosclerosis (ath-uh-roh-skluh-roh’-sis) is a disorder of large to medium arteries and the circulatory system. The largest of these arteries are the Coronary Arteries which provide the muscles of the heart with oxygenated blood. Also, arteriosclerosis can affect the Carotid Arteries which bring blood and oxygen to the brain. Atherosclerosis is characterized by a buildup of fatty deposits, called plaque, on the inner walls of the affected arteries. This yellowish plaque material is made up of LDL-Cholesterol, lipids and cellular debris. During this process the involved arteries become progressively narrowed. This can lead to a loss of tissue elasticity and loss of oxygen to the arterial tissues, heart muscles and brain tissues. Both Coronary Atherosclerosis and Cerebrovascular Atherosclerosis are extremely dangerous. As the damage increases there is increased reduction of blood flow to vital organs, such as the heart or brain, even kidneys and lower extremities.
Arteriosclerosis (är-tîr’ē-ō-sklə-rō’sĭs)
“Hardening of the arteries,” or arteriosclerosis (as distinct from atherosclerosis), is a progressive dysfunction of calcium metabolism resulting in the walls of blood vessels becoming stiff. This is caused by (1) cross-linkage of collagen, the protein which makes up the connective tissue of artery walls, and (2) by the slow steady diffuse deposition of calcium in the walls of the arterial tree.
With arteriosclerosis, calcium builds up and becomes concentrated in the wall of the normal artery. We are not talking about plaque formation but rather a diffuse deposition of calcium in the walls of arteries, finally resulting in an arterial system that is said to be as stiff as a lead pipe. Calcium content is what atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis have in common, but in atherosclerosis it occurs in concentrations called plaques; in arteriosclerosis it occurs diffusely.
Of course, the most well known result of calcium deposit is heart attack, also called myocardial infarction. In most heart attacks both atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis are present. Atherosclerosis provides the plaque which narrows the artery and arteriosclerosis stiffens the arteries so that they cannot expand with each heart beat to compensate for the blockage caused by plaque formation.
Tags: arteries, brain, calcium, carotid, cholesterol, coronary, heart attack, plaque, stiff
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