Etymed
arteriosclerosis
Definition
A pathological condition characterized by the thickening and hardening of arterial walls, leading to reduced elasticity and impaired blood flow
Clinical context
A 65-year-old man presents with progressive shortness of breath and chest pain on exertion. His physical examination reveals bilateral lower extremity edema and crackles in the lung bases. Echocardiography shows left ventricular hypertrophy with reduced ejection fraction. He has a history of hypertension and hyperlipidemia. The underlying pathological process involves progressive thickening and hardening of his arterial walls, impairing normal blood flow dynamics.
Mnemonic
ARTERIOsclerosis = Atherosclerosis (A) + Thickened (R) + Elasticity (T) + Arterial (E) + Hardened (R) + Walls (I) + O (S) +clerosis