Atherosclerosis is the underlying process in coronary heart disease leading to
myocardial infarction, and in arterial damage leading to cerebrovascular accidents. It
accounts for almost 50% of deaths in the western world. Atherosclerosis is
characterised by the presence of fibro-lipid plaques (atheroma) within the vessel wall.
Whilst the initiation and progression of atheroma are not fully understood, it is
generally accepted that the time-varying haemodynamic wall shear stress (WSS) that
the vessel wall is exposed to is important in determining the likelihood of
development of an atherosclerotic plaque
The superior mesenteric artery (SMA) is the major blood vessel feeding the small
intestine; compared to other vessels of similar size, it is largely spared the effects of
atherosclerosis
