title: [Atherosclerosis. Description and mechanisms. Part 1: description].
abstract: This review is devoted to the cellular biology of the arterial wall, particularly of the cerebral arteries. Starting with the description of the structure and physiology of normal arteries and of atherosclerotic lesions some of the current theories on the mechanisms of atherosclerosis are considered. They have developed along two lines of thinking according to whether the main role is given to arterial smooth muscle cells or to macrophage cells. Both hypotheses view atherosclerosis as a pathological deviation from a physiological reaction aimed at maintaining and repairing the permanently strained arterial intima. The risk factors, as identified by epidemiological studies, are likely to play a major role in this degenerative process.
mesh_terms: D001158:Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology
vernacular_title: Athérosclérose. Description et mécanismes. 1re partie: description.