[Rhythmic structures of the aorta in children and young adults]

The time of appearance, age incidence and frequency of the transition into fibrous plaques of aortic rhythmic structures (RS) were studied on a large autopsy material. It is established that RS can be found in newborns and that their incidence after one year of age reached 60%. In 40% of persons over 20 years of age RS were observed to transform in fibrous plaques. The process underlying RS development is the destruction and disorganization of elastic fibers at the border between the intima and media with subsequent migration of smooth-muscle cells from the media into intima, thickening of the latter with introduction of disorderly located elastic fibers. Focal muscular-elastic intimal hyperplasia ("pillow") is regarded as RS in coronary arteries of children.