Definition

Noun: - A deposit, primarily composed of fatty substances, cholesterol, and cellular waste, that builds up on the inner walls of arteries. This accumulation is a hallmark characteristic of the disease atherosclerosis.

Usage

This term is used in medical and health contexts to describe a specific pathological finding within blood vessels. It refers to the physical material that narrows and hardens arteries.

Examples

• The autopsy revealed significant arterial plaque in the coronary arteries.
• A diet high in saturated fat can contribute to the formation of arterial plaque.
• The doctor explained that the chest pain was likely due to reduced blood flow caused by arterial plaque.

Advanced Usage

• Plaque burden: This phrase refers to the total amount of arterial plaque present in a person's vascular system, often assessed for cardiac risk.
• Plaque rupture: A critical event where a deposit of arterial plaque breaks open, which can trigger a blood clot and cause a heart attack or stroke.
• Vulnerable plaque: A type of arterial plaque with a thin, fibrous cap that is considered unstable and prone to rupture.

Variants and Related Words

• Atheroma: A more technical, synonymous term for a mass of arterial plaque.
• Atherosclerotic plaque: A full, descriptive synonym for arterial plaque.
• Plaque (in this context): Often used alone in medical discourse to mean arterial plaque (e.g., "plaque buildup").

Synonyms

• Atheroma
• Atherosclerotic plaque
• Fatty streak (an early, flat type of plaque)
• Lesion (in the specific context of atherosclerosis)

Related Phrases

• Plaque buildup/accumulation: The process of arterial plaque forming over time.
• Plaque deposition: The action of plaque adhering to the arterial wall.

Noun

1. a fatty deposit inside an arterial wall; characteristic of atherosclerosis