| Aneurysm | An abnormal bulge in the wall of an artery that can grow over time and may eventually rupture, causing life-threatening bleeding. |
| Angioplasty | A medical procedure used to widen narrowed or obstructed arteries, typically to treat arterial atherosclerosis. |
| Arteries | Blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart to various parts of the body. |
| Atherosclerosis | A chronic inflammatory response in the walls of arteries, largely due to the deposition of lipoproteins (cholesterol-containing particles). |
| Baroreceptor Reflex | A critical feedback mechanism that helps maintain blood pressure at nearly constant levels within the human body. |
| Basement Membrane | A layer that provides physical support for endothelial cells and contributes to the selective permeability of vessel walls. |
| Blood Clot | A mass formed by the aggregation of platelets and fibrin in the blood to stop bleeding. |
| Capillaries | The smallest blood vessels in the body, facilitating the exchange of water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and other nutrients and waste substances between blood and surrounding tissues. |
| Coagulation | The body’s mechanism to prevent excessive bleeding when a blood vessel is injured, involving the activation of a cascade that leads to the formation of a stable blood clot. |
| Continuous Capillary | The most common type of capillary, characterized by a continuous endothelial layer, facilitating exchange between blood and tissues. |
| Elastic Artery | A large vessel that leads directly from the heart, equipped to handle high pressure and large volumes of blood, characterized by its ability to stretch and recoil. |
| Endothelium | The innermost lining of blood vessels, providing a smooth surface that reduces friction and allows blood to flow freely. |
| Erythrocytes | Red blood cells responsible for carrying oxygen from the lungs to the body’s tissues and returning carbon dioxide to the lungs for exhalation. |
| Fatty Streaks | The earliest visible lesions in the development of atherosclerosis, consisting of lipid-laden foam cells. |
| Fibrous Plaque | An advanced atherosclerotic lesion characterized by a lipid core, inflammatory cells, smooth muscle cells, and a fibrous cap. |
| Foam Cells | Macrophages that have ingested low-density lipoproteins (LDL), becoming lipid-laden and contributing to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques. |
| Intercostal Arteries | Branching vessels from the thoracic aorta that supply blood to the ribs, chest wall, and muscles between the ribs. |
| Intima | The innermost layer of an artery or vein, consisting of endothelial cells and a thin layer of connective tissue. |
| Muscular Artery | A type of artery with a thick layer of smooth muscle in its wall, capable of contracting or relaxing to regulate blood flow and pressure. |
| Plaque | An accumulation of lipids, cholesterol, and other substances on the arterial wall, leading to atherosclerosis. |
| Smooth Muscle | Muscle found in the walls of arteries that can contract or relax to change the diameter of the artery, thus regulating blood pressure and flow. |
| Stent | A small wire mesh tube used to keep an artery open after an angioplasty procedure. |
| Thrombus | A blood clot that forms in a vessel and remains there, potentially leading to vascular obstruction. |
| Tunica Media | The middle layer of an artery or vein, composed of smooth muscle cells and elastic fibers, providing structural support and elasticity. |
| Unstable Plaque | A type of atherosclerotic plaque with a thin fibrous cap that is prone to rupture, leading to the formation of a thrombus and potentially causing a heart attack or stroke. |
