ARTERIOSCLEROSIS is best described as which of the following?

• A. THICKENING AND STIFF ARTERIES
• B. INFLAMMATION OF VEINS
• C. WEAKENING OF HEART MUSCLE
• D. BLOCKAGE OF BLOOD FLOW

Answer: (A)

Arteriosclerosis is the thickening and stiffening of arterial walls, which makes the arteries less flexible and less able to expand with each heartbeat. That loss of elasticity is the defining feature, so describing arteries as thickened and stiff best captures what arteriosclerosis is.

Inflammation of veins is phlebitis, not arteriosclerosis. Weakening of the heart muscle describes cardiomyopathy, a problem with the heart muscle itself, not the arterial walls. Blockage of blood flow refers to occlusion or obstruction, which can occur for various reasons but isn’t the characteristic description of arteriosclerosis. Keep in mind that arteriosclerosis can contribute to flow issues over time, but the key idea here is the thickening and hardening of the arteries.