atherosclerosis
ATHEROSCLEROSIS what is atherosclerosis ? - a pattern of vascular disease which is characterized by intimal lesions called atheromas /atheromatous / atherosclerotic plaques that protrude into and obstruct the vascular lumen and weaken the underlying tunica media. what are the common sites of formation of atheromas? - proximal portion of coronary arteries - internal carotid arteries - the circle of willis - large vessels of the lower extremities - renal arteries - mesenteric arteries morphology of atheromatous plaques A) MACROSCOPIC : color : white yellow ,if superimposed thrombus over ulcerated plaque then it is red - brown size : vary in size shape : patchy and eccentric cut section : a) central necrotic core b)subendothelial superficial fibromuscular cap periphery of the lesions : NEOVASCULARIZATION B)MICROSCOPIC : three principal component cells : smooth muscle cell,macrophage and t cell extracellular matrix : collagen,elastic fibers and pr