ABSTRACT
The subjects of this chapter are arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis. The Šrst is also known as arteriosclerotic vascular disease (ASVD) and the second refers to the process of atheroma formation within the walls of arteries. These two concepts are related and common usage has made them synonymous. Arteriosclerosis, from the Greek words arteria (artery) and sklerosis (hardening), obviously means hardening of the arteries; atherosclerosis speciŠes hardening of the arteries due to the presence of atheromas, from the Greek athere (porridge or gruel) and oma (inside). The most common cause of vascular disease is atherosclerosis.
