The clinical significance of disturbances of microcirculation in the pathogenesis of arteriosclerosis

Abstract

The microcirculation takes place in 2 histological areas, in an intravascular and in an intramural part. Both parts are produced by vessel wall cells which are mesenchymal cells. A larger number of heterogenous stimuli and injuries, especially the so-called risk factors, directly and regularly induce a reactive alteration of the mesenchymal metabolism (the “non-specific mesenchymal reaction”).

Two types of the intramural part are serving for the microcirculation: a) the intramural part in the vessel wall and b) the intramural part in the capillary wall.

The histological consequences of the reactive pathological metabolism in the intramural part are described particularly with regard to the pathogenesis of arteriosclerosis of circulatory disturbances.