Changes in the walls of large arteries consisting of lipid deposits on the artery walls are known as what?

• A. Hypertension
• B. Cholesterol
• C. Atherosclerosis
• D. Sphygmomanometer

Answer: (C)

Lipid buildup in the walls of large arteries causes atherosclerosis. This disease features plaques formed by cholesterol-rich lipids, calcium, and cellular debris accumulating in the inner lining (the intima) of arteries. As these plaques grow, the artery wall thickens and hardens, narrowing the lumen and reducing blood flow. Hypertension is simply high blood pressure, not the wall changes described. Cholesterol refers to the circulating lipid that can contribute to plaque formation but isn’t the disease process itself. A sphygmomanometer is a device used to measure blood pressure. Therefore, the description of lipid deposits on artery walls directly points to atherosclerosis.