Pathology · Cardiovascular System · Medium
Atheroma
Meaning: Fatty, cholesterol-rich deposit that builds up within the inner wall of an artery.
In practice: A large atheroma in the carotid artery was narrowing blood flow to the brain.
Word parts
- -oma means a lump, mass or tumour
Many medical words are built from Greek and Latin parts like these, so learning a few helps you work out new terms.
Quick check
Two questions on related pathology words.
Which word means: Tumour of the pancreatic islet cells that secretes too much of the hormone that lowers blood sugar.
Answer: Insulinoma
Which word means: Formation and discharge of pus at a site of infection.
Answer: Suppuration
Words like atheroma come up in the daily game
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