avi_newman
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The process of atherosclerosis involves the build up of a plaque in the lumen of a given artery. Within that plaque are lipids. The lipids get there in a number of ways but some of them are 1)the oxygenation of the lipid, 2) the ingestion of the oxydised lipids by macrophages yielding "foam cells",so named because the fatty deposits within the macrophage give a visual appearance of being foamy. At any rate these foam cells add to the build up of plaque. As this is going on, smooth muscle cells at being attracted by the inflammatory processes to enter the intima from the media.
These smooth muscle cells also ingest the oxygenated lipids and contribute to further build up of plaque. The plaque is bad news. It occludes the lumen of the vessel. It inflames the vessel further causing the build up of lipid-laden plaque to keep going. If that plaque ever breaks loose there is great potential for an embolism. The resulting complete occlusion of an artery downstream can have terrible consequences, say a cerebral stroke.
You can read all about this in Robbins pathology. I suggest using the latest edition, so that you benefit from more recent expert opinion on this subject.
Good luck to all of us! Be Well!....Avi Newman
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