Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Structure of Blood Vessels01:15

Structure of Blood Vessels

Blood is circulated throughout the human body through a network of blood vessels called the circulatory system. This system includes arteries that transport blood from the heart to various body parts. These arterial pathways divide into smaller vessels until they reach the arterioles, which further split into capillaries. It is within these minuscule capillaries that the exchange of nutrients and waste products takes place. After this exchange, the blood is collected by venules, which fuse to...
Atherosclerosis I: Introduction01:30

Atherosclerosis I: Introduction

Atherosclerosis is a progressive disorder characterized by the buildup of plaques on the arterial inner wall, causing them to narrow and harden over time. These plaques comprise lipids, calcium, blood components, carbohydrates, and fibrous tissue. The process primarily affects the intima of large and medium-sized arteries, reducing blood flow in any artery.Etiology and risk factorsThe cause of atherosclerosis is multifactorial, involving a complex interplay among endothelial injury, lipid...
Atherosclerosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Tests01:27

Atherosclerosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Tests

Atherosclerosis is a progressive disorder that leads to the thickening and narrowing of arterial walls due to plaque buildup. This condition can cause various symptoms depending on the arteries affected:Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): This condition affects the coronary arteries and may lead to chest pain (angina), shortness of breath (dyspnea), heart attacks, and other heart disease symptoms.Cerebrovascular Disease: This affects blood flow to the brain, causing transient ischemic attacks (TIAs)...
Overview of Blood Vessels01:14

Overview of Blood Vessels

The human cardiovascular system comprises five primary types of blood vessels: arteries, arterioles, veins, venules, and capillaries, each serving unique functions.
Arteries and Arterioles: Arteries are muscular and elastic vessels that primarily carry oxygenated blood from the heart to body tissues, except for the pulmonary artery, which carries deoxygenated blood. They have thick walls to withstand high pressure and contain a layer of muscle tissue, allowing them to expand or contract as...
Arteries and Arterioles01:16

Arteries and Arterioles

Arteries, the vasculature responsible for transporting blood from the heart, possess robust walls capable of enduring the elevated pressures exerted by the heartbeat. Arteries near the heart are especially thick-walled and enriched with elastic fibers across their three tunics, classifying them as elastic or conducting arteries. These arteries, usually with a diameter exceeding 10 mm, are characterized by their ability to dilate in response to the blood pumped from the heart's ventricles and...
Anatomy of Blood Vessels01:20

Anatomy of Blood Vessels

The vascular system, an integral part of the circulatory system, comprises various blood vessels that play crucial roles in maintaining the body's homeostasis. These blood vessels form a complex and efficient circulatory network. The three primary categories of blood vessels are the arteries, veins, and capillaries.
Arteries
Arteries circulate oxygenated blood from the heart, except the pulmonary artery, which transports deoxygenated blood to the lungs. Large arteries, such as the aorta, have...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Modifiable Risk Factors and Attributable Ischemic Heart Disease Mortality in US States, 1990-2023: A Systematic Analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023.

JAMA cardiology·2026
Same author

Community-based recruitment with ankle brachial index testing to identify peripheral artery disease participants for randomized clinical trials.

American heart journal·2026
Same author

Metformin to Improve Walking Performance in Lower Extremity Peripheral Artery Disease: The PERMET Randomized Clinical Trial.

JAMA·2025
Same author

Utility of coronary artery calcium scoring in low-risk patients: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).

American journal of preventive cardiology·2025
Same author

Peripheral artery disease.

Nature reviews. Disease primers·2025
Same author

Duration of Supervised Exercise Necessary for Meaningful Improvement in Peripheral Artery Disease.

Journal of the American Heart Association·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 12, 2026

Quantitative Analysis and Characterization of Atherosclerotic Lesions in the Murine Aortic Sinus
06:43

Quantitative Analysis and Characterization of Atherosclerotic Lesions in the Murine Aortic Sinus

Published on: December 7, 2013

Large and small vessels atherosclerosis: similarities and differences.

Victor Aboyans1, Philippe Lacroix, Michael H Criqui

  • 1Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery and Angiology, Dupuytren University Hospital, Limoges, France. vaboyans@ucsd.edu

Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases
|September 4, 2007
PubMed
Summary

Atherosclerosis affects large and small arteries differently, with proximal lesions often more unstable and linked to smoking. Distal lesions are more common with aging and in non-Caucasian populations, with diabetes specifically associated with small vessel disease.

More Related Videos

Three-Dimensional Imaging of Aortic Tissues in Atherosclerosis
09:55

Three-Dimensional Imaging of Aortic Tissues in Atherosclerosis

Published on: October 25, 2024

Quantification of Atherosclerosis in Mice
06:59

Quantification of Atherosclerosis in Mice

Published on: June 12, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 12, 2026

Quantitative Analysis and Characterization of Atherosclerotic Lesions in the Murine Aortic Sinus
06:43

Quantitative Analysis and Characterization of Atherosclerotic Lesions in the Murine Aortic Sinus

Published on: December 7, 2013

Three-Dimensional Imaging of Aortic Tissues in Atherosclerosis
09:55

Three-Dimensional Imaging of Aortic Tissues in Atherosclerosis

Published on: October 25, 2024

Quantification of Atherosclerosis in Mice
06:59

Quantification of Atherosclerosis in Mice

Published on: June 12, 2019

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Vascular Biology
  • Pathology

Background:

  • Atherosclerosis is a systemic disease affecting various organs.
  • Lesion location (large/proximal vs. small/distal arteries) may influence clinical presentation and risk factors.
  • Existing research shows disparities in lesion distribution and associations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore differences in atherosclerosis lesion characteristics based on arterial size (proximal vs. distal).
  • To investigate associations between lesion location and various risk factors (smoking, dyslipidemia, diabetes, hypertension).
  • To examine racial differences and inflammatory marker associations with lesion distribution.

Main Methods:

  • Review and synthesis of existing studies on atherosclerosis lesion distribution.
  • Analysis of associations between lesion location and demographic/clinical factors.
  • Consideration of geometric, hemodynamic, and histologic factors.

Main Results:

  • Proximal lesions are more common initially, often more unstable, and linked to smoking and dyslipidemia.
  • Distal lesions increase with age and are more prevalent in non-Caucasian populations.
  • Diabetes is more specific to small vessel disease; hypertension is more frequent in intracranial disease.

Conclusions:

  • Arterial size significantly influences atherosclerosis characteristics and risk factor associations.
  • Geometric, hemodynamic, and endothelial properties may explain location-specific differences.
  • Further research is needed to understand these distinct pathophysiologies.