heart and blood vessel disorders
Atherosclerosis
Arteriosclerosis
Arteriosclerosis, which means hardening (sclerosis) of the arteries (arterio-), is a general term for several disorders in which the wall of an artery becomes thicker and less elastic. There are three types: Atherosclerosis Arteriolosclerosis Mönckeberg arteriosclerosis Atherosclerosis,the most common type, means hardening related to plaques, which are deposits of fatty materials. It affects medium-sized and large arteries. Arteriolosclerosismeans hardening of the arterioles, which are small arteries. It affects primarily the inner and middle layers of the walls of arterioles. The walls thicken, narrowing the arterioles. As a result, organs supplied by the affected arterioles do not receive enough blood. The kidneys are often affected. This disorder occurs mainly in people who have high blood pressure or diabetes. Either of these disorders may stress the walls of arterioles, resulting in thickening. Mönckeberg arteriosclerosisaffects small to medium-sized arteries. Calcium accumulates within the walls of arteries, making them stiff but not narrow. This essentially harmless disorder usually affects men and women older than 50. 