[Development of arteriosclerosis]

Arteriosclerosis is the general term for a group of arterial vascular diseases characterized by arterial wall thickening and loss of elasticity, which are caused by different biological processes. The most commonly used classification defines four distinct histopathological types: arteriolosclerosis, medial sclerosis, fibromuscular intimal hyperplasia and atherosclerosis. The pathobiological remodeling of the arterial wall essentially represents different repair responses of vascular cells to molecular stress factors and microlesions. This article should contribute to the clarification of the nomenclature and the histopathological classification of the disease symptoms, to elucidate the biological processes underlying the different pathologies during arteriosclerosis and to raise awareness for these differences, because these can decisively contribute to the success of selected treatment modalities.