Word parts
What it means
Fat, cholesterol and other material collect in the inner wall of an arteryAR-ter-eeA blood vessel that takes blood from the heart out to the body.arteri/o arteryFull entry and form plaque, which narrows the artery and makes it stiff. Less blood gets through, and a plaque can break open and form a clot. It is the main cause of coronary artery diseaseKOR-uh-nair-ee AR-tuh-ree dih-ZEEZNarrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle, most often from fatty plaque buildup.Full entry , heart attack, stroke and poor blood flow to the legs. It is one kind of arteriosclerosisar-teer-ee-oh-skluh-ROH-sisThickening and stiffening of the walls of the arteries, so they lose their ability to stretch.arteri/o arteryscler/o hard-osis conditionFull entry .
For the nurse
Teach the habits that slow it: stop smoking, eat less saturated fat, stay active, and keep blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar under control. Clients often take statins and aspirin as ordered.
Remember it
Ather- is like a thick paste stuck inside the pipe.
At a glance
| Spanish | aterosclerosis |
|---|---|
| Also written | atherosclerotic |
Easy to confuse with
arteriosclerosis
Thickening and stiffening of the walls of the arteries, so they lose their ability to stretch.
Related terms
-osis
A word ending that means an abnormal condition or process, or an increase.
coronary artery disease
Narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle, most often from fatty plaque buildup.
myocardial infarction
Death of part of the heart muscle because its blood supply is blocked; a heart attack.
artery
A blood vessel that takes blood from the heart out to the body.
ischemia
Too little blood flow to a part of the body, so the tissue does not get enough oxygen.