Atheroma- the build up of fatty deposits mainly LDL (bad cholesterol)which forms within the endothelium of an artery.
Its called plaque when hardened by calcium ions and other substances

Atherosclerosis is the disease you have when atheroma is in the artery. (More likely to happen in an artery as there is a high pressure)

Causes
• High fat diets and cholesterol- high levels of LDL. LDL carries cholesterol from your liver to the cells that need it. If there is too much cholesterol for the cells to use, it can build up in the artery walls.
• Smoking can damage the walls of your arteries. Blood cells known as platelets will then clump together at the site of the damage to try to repair it. This can cause your arteries to narrow. Smoking also decreases the blood's ability to carry oxygen around your body, which increases the chances of a blood clot occurring.
• High blood pressure- If that pressure is exceeded, the walls of the arteries will be damaged.
High blood pressure can be caused by:
• being overweight
• drinking excessive amounts of alcohol
• stress
• smoking
• a lack of exercise

Formation
1. Endothelium becomes damaged e.g. high blood pressure which puts extra strain on the cells layer
2. Inflammatory response- white blood cells leave the blood vessels and move into the artery wall. The WBC accumulate chemicals from the blood (cholesterol) Deposits build up- atheroma
3. Calcium salts and fibrous tissues also build up (plaque) on inner wall of artery. Artery looses some of its elasticity
4. Plaque causes artery to narrow making it