Final answer:
Aneurysm is a term that describes the abnormal widening of a weak and bulging arterial wall, while atherosclerosis refers to the build-up of plaque within the arteries, causing them to narrow and stiffen. Atherosclerosis is associated with inflammation, tissue injury, and can be aggravated by several risk factors like advanced age and hypertension.
Step-by-step explanation:
“Abnormal widening of the arterial wall that is weak and bulges” defines the term aneurysm, not atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis, however, is a condition wherein plaque builds up inside arteries, eventually causing the lumen inside to narrow and the arterial walls to stiffen. This plaque consists of white blood cells, cholesterol, fatty substances, and other materials like calcium. The inflammatory process that accompanies tissue injury is crucial in this context as it leads to the weakening and eventual stiffening of artery walls, reducing their compliance and predisposing them to further damage, including the potential formation of aneurysms.
Over time, atherosclerotic plaque buildup can impair blood flow, a condition often exacerbated by additional risk factors such as advanced age, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, poor nutrition, lack of physical activity, and tobacco use. Atherosclerosis is thus a specific type of arteriosclerosis, and while it's sometimes referred to as “hardening of the arteries”, it's more accurate to describe it as the thickening and stiffening of arterial walls due to plaque deposition.