The arteries have three layers that surround the lumen which becomes abraded and thinned in circulatory disease such as atherosclerosis, the middle layer is called the tunica media this becomes enlarged as cholesterol is sequested as the body tries to recover from damage, this layer is also the muscle layer that allows the artery to stretch and recoil around a pulse of blood leaving the heart during systole, this ability is reduced as the muscle deteriorates and finally the outer layer (tunica externa) loses it elastic properties, the overall effect is instead of a circular cross section you get a transverse section that is floppy.
This then severely restricts the flow of oxygen carrying blood to the myocardium.
An individual may develop a rupture of an atheromatous plaque at any stage this acute rupture may lead to an acute myocardial infarction (heart attack).
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