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Coronary Disease | © Cynthia Turner
An atheromatous plaque is an accumulation between the endothelium lining and the smooth muscle wall of the arterial wall. It is made mostly of macrophage cells containing cell debris comprised of lipids, calcium and fibrous connective tissue. Eventually atheromatous plaques lead to stenosis (narrowing) of the artery. If the vessel’s endothelial lining is breached by a plaque rupture, the activated platelets result in platelet aggregation and platelet adhesion and blood clot formation. Cover for American Academy of Family Physicians journal.
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