Why does plaque buildup in arteries (atherosclerosis) preferentially occur at branch points rather than straight sections of a vessel?

💡 Explanation

Plaque preferentially forms at arterial branch points because disturbed (turbulent) blood flow occurs there, rather than laminar flow. This turbulent flow increases endothelial permeability via disrupted shear stress, which then facilitates the accumulation of lipids and inflammatory cells. Therefore, plaque builds up, rather than being cleared away.

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