Which condition describes the deposition of fatty plaques in the inner walls of arteries?

Which condition describes the deposition of fatty plaques in the inner walls of arteries?

• A. Aneurysm
• B. Atherosclerosis
• C. Endarteritis
• D. Arteriosclerosis

Answer: (B)

The condition described is atherosclerosis. It involves the buildup of lipid-rich plaques, called atheromas, in the tunica intima—the inner lining of arteries. These fatty deposits harden and narrow the arterial lumen, which can reduce blood flow and raise the risk of clot formation, heart attack, or stroke. This specific lipid deposition differentiates it from other vascular conditions: an aneurysm is a bulging weakened section of a vessel; endarteritis is inflammation of the inner lining; arteriosclerosis is a broader term for hardening of the arteries, while atherosclerosis is the fatty-plaque–driven form of that hardening.

The condition described is atherosclerosis. It involves the buildup of lipid-rich plaques, called atheromas, in the tunica intima—the inner lining of arteries. These fatty deposits harden and narrow the arterial lumen, which can reduce blood flow and raise the risk of clot formation, heart attack, or stroke. This specific lipid deposition differentiates it from other vascular conditions: an aneurysm is a bulging weakened section of a vessel; endarteritis is inflammation of the inner lining; arteriosclerosis is a broader term for hardening of the arteries, while atherosclerosis is the fatty-plaque–driven form of that hardening.