atheroma

[ath-uh-roh-muh] /ˌæθ əˈroʊ mə/

noun, plural atheromas, atheromata

[ath-uh-roh-muh-tuh] /ˌæθ əˈroʊ mə tə/ (Show IPA). Pathology

a sebaceous cyst.

a mass of yellowish fatty and cellular material that forms in and beneath the inner lining of the arterial walls.

Origin

1700-10; < Neo-Latin, Latin: a tumor filled with gruellike matter < Greek athḗrōma, equivalent to athḗr(ē) gruel + -ōma -oma

Related forms

atheromatous

[ath-uh-rom-uh-tuh s, -roh-muh-] /ˌæθ əˈrɒm ə təs, -ˈroʊ mə-/ (Show IPA), adjective

British Dictionary definitions for atheroma

atheroma

/ˌæθəˈrəʊmə/

noun (pl) -mas, -mata (-mətə)

(pathol) a fatty deposit on or within the inner lining of an artery, often causing an obstruction to the blood flow

Derived Forms

atheromatous (ˌæθəˈrɒmətəs; -ˈrəʊ-) adjective

Word Origin

C18: via Latin from Greek athērōma tumour full of matter resembling gruel, from athēra gruel

Word Origin and History for atheroma

"encysted tumor," 1706, medical Latin, from Greek atheroma, from athere "groats, porridge" (related to ather "chaff"), in reference to what is inside. For ending, see -oma.

atheroma in Medicine

atheroma ath·er·o·ma (āth'ə-rō'mə)
n. pl. ath·er·o·mas or ath·er·o·ma·ta (-mə-tə)
A deposit or degenerative accumulation of lipid-containing plaques on the innermost layer of the wall of an artery.

ath'er·o·ma·to'sis (-tō'sĭs) n.
ath'er·om'a·tous (-rŏm'ə-təs, -rō'mə-) adj.