arteriosclerosis

[ahr-teer-ee-oh-skluh-roh-sis]

noun

1. degenerative changes in the arteries, characterized by thickening of the vessel walls and accumulation of calcium with consequent loss of elasticity and lessened blood flow.

arteriosclerosis

/ ɑːˌtɪərɪəʊsklɪəˈrɒtɪk, ɑːˌtɪərɪəʊsklɪəˈrəʊsɪs /

noun

1. Nontechnical name: hardening of the arteries. a pathological condition of the circulatory system characterized by thickening and loss of elasticity of the arterial walls

arteriosclerosis

1. A thickening, hardening, and loss of elasticity of the arterial walls that results in impaired blood circulation.

2. See also atherosclerosis

arteriosclerosis

1. A disease commonly called hardening of the arteries. In arteriosclerosis, the walls of the arteries thicken and harden. The loss of flexibility results in a lessening of the flow of blood to the various organs of the body. (Compare atherosclerosis; see circulatory system.)

Other Word Forms

• arteriosclerotic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of arteriosclerosis¹

1885–90; < New Latin. See arterio-, sclerosis