Which statement best distinguishes arteriosclerosis from atherosclerosis?

• A. Arteriosclerosis refers to thickening and loss of elasticity of arterial walls.
• B. Atherosclerosis refers to thickening and loss of elasticity.
• C. Arteriosclerosis is caused by infection.
• D. Atherosclerosis occurs in veins only.

Answer: (A)

Arteriosclerosis is the thickening and loss of elasticity of arterial walls, a general hardening of the arteries that makes them stiffer and less able to stretch with each heartbeat. This reduced elasticity raises the workload on the heart and can impair blood flow. Atherosclerosis is a specific type of arteriosclerosis where lipid-rich plaques build up within the arterial wall, narrowing the lumen and increasing the risk of blockages. Because the statement highlights the broad change in the arterial wall—thickening and loss of elasticity—it best distinguishes arteriosclerosis. The other options don’t fit: atherosclerosis is not just thickening and loss of elasticity, arteriosclerosis is not caused by infection, and atherosclerosis occurs in arteries, not veins.