arteriosclerosis

American  

[ahr-teer-ee-oh-skluh-roh-sis] / ɑrˌtɪər i oʊ skləˈroʊ sɪs /

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 British  

/ 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 Scientific  

/ är-tîr′ē-ō-sklə-rō′sĭs /

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

2. See also atherosclerosis

---

arteriosclerosis Cultural  

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

Etymology

Origin of arteriosclerosis

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

Compare meaning

How does arteriosclerosis compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• atherosclerosis vs. arteriosclerosis

Example Sentences

Many common illnesses such as arteriosclerosis and diabetes or neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's are associated with inflammatory processes.

From Science Daily • Nov. 2, 2023

The cause was cerebral arteriosclerosis, her son John Fitzpatrick said.

From New York Times • Jul. 11, 2023

Formell, she said, had high blood pressure and arteriosclerosis.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 2, 2023

The other significant condition that contributed to his death was "peripheral arteriosclerosis with gangrene of the feet."

From Salon • Jan. 15, 2023

The hypertrophy of the heart in arteriosclerosis is invariably due to the enlargement and thickening of the left ventricle.

From Arteriosclerosis and Hypertension: with Chapters on Blood Pressure, 3rd Edition. by Warfield, Louis Marshall