atherosclerotic plaque


atherosclerotic plaque

The core lesion of atherosclerosis, beginning as a fatty streak (an ill-defined yellow lesion­, or fatty plaque), which develops well-demarcated edges that evolve to fibrous plaques (whitish lesions with a grumous lipid-rich core). With time, it becomes a complicated plaque composed of WBCs, smooth muscle cells and extracellular matrix in larger artery intimas.

atherosclerotic plaque

Cardiology The core lesion of atherosclerosis; it begins as a fatty streak, an ill-defined yellow lesion–fatty plaque, which develops well-demarcated edges that evolve to fibrous plaques, whitish lesions with a grumous lipid-rich core which, with time, becomes a complicated plaque composed of WBCs, smooth muscle cells and extracellular matrix in large artery intimas. See Complicated plaque.

Atherosclerotic plaque

A deposit of fat and other substances that accumulate in the lining of the artery wall.Mentioned in: Atherectomy