Which condition begins as a fatty streak within the intimal layer of the vessel wall?

Which condition begins as a fatty streak within the intimal layer of the vessel wall?

• A. Atherosclerosis
• B. Atherosis
• C. Arteriosclerosis
• D. Thrombosis

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that the earliest lesion in arteries is a fatty streak confined to the intima. This form develops when LDL cholesterol penetrates the endothelium, is taken up by macrophages, and turns into lipid-filled foam cells that pack into the inner lining of the vessel. These fatty streaks are the first visible step in atherosclerosis and can progress over time to fibrous plaques that narrow or destabilize the vessel. Other terms refer to different things: arteriosclerosis is a broad hardening of arteries, not specifically the initial lipid-laden lesion; thrombosis is a clot that can block a vessel and occurs after many processes; atherosis describes a placental arteriopathy with lipid-laden cells, not the typical arterial changes seen in systemic atherosclerosis.

The key idea is that the earliest lesion in arteries is a fatty streak confined to the intima. This form develops when LDL cholesterol penetrates the endothelium, is taken up by macrophages, and turns into lipid-filled foam cells that pack into the inner lining of the vessel. These fatty streaks are the first visible step in atherosclerosis and can progress over time to fibrous plaques that narrow or destabilize the vessel.

Other terms refer to different things: arteriosclerosis is a broad hardening of arteries, not specifically the initial lipid-laden lesion; thrombosis is a clot that can block a vessel and occurs after many processes; atherosis describes a placental arteriopathy with lipid-laden cells, not the typical arterial changes seen in systemic atherosclerosis.