Atheroma

a disease’ condition affecting the of arteries and the valves of the heart. The coats become infiltrated with cells, which undergo fatty degeneration or calcifi- The elasticity and resistance of the artery thus interfered with, and various affections thence result, eg. aneurism (q.v.), senile or, if the cerebral ve els be affected, (q.v.). Atheromatous degencration is always present in old persons, but in some it may occur earlier or to a greater extent in others.