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Article: Vascular Disease
- Article from:
- Encyclopedia of Aging
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 The Gale Group Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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VASCULAR DISEASE
With the increase in life expectancy that has occurred since the early twentieth century, greater numbers of older adults are suffering from atherosclerosis and vascular-related diseases.
Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is a generalized disorder of
the arterial tree, manifested by
plaque
formation along the inner surface of arteries. The formation of plaque involves a dynamic process of biologically active endothelial cells (cells lining the inner surface of arteries) interacting with various hemodynamic, mechanical, metabolic, and chem
ical forces and substances. Normally, endothelial cells serve to maintain the integrity of the arterial wall, adapting to stress and ...