Atherosclerosis is:

Atherosclerosis is:

• A. Inflammation of arteries
• B. Hardening of arteries due to fatty plaque
• C. Blockage of veins
• D. Dilation of arteries

Answer: (B)

Atherosclerosis is the buildup of fatty plaques inside the walls of arteries, causing the vessels to become stiff and narrowed. This process starts with injury to the inner lining of an artery and involves lipids, inflammatory cells, and calcium forming a plaque that thickens the wall and reduces the lumen, leading to decreased blood flow and increased risk of ischemia or heart attack. While inflammation is part of the process, the defining feature is plaque accumulation within arterial walls, not inflammation alone. It’s also not a problem with veins or a dilation of arteries.

Atherosclerosis is the buildup of fatty plaques inside the walls of arteries, causing the vessels to become stiff and narrowed. This process starts with injury to the inner lining of an artery and involves lipids, inflammatory cells, and calcium forming a plaque that thickens the wall and reduces the lumen, leading to decreased blood flow and increased risk of ischemia or heart attack. While inflammation is part of the process, the defining feature is plaque accumulation within arterial walls, not inflammation alone. It’s also not a problem with veins or a dilation of arteries.