Angiology:

- the study of blood vessels (veins, arteries, arteriols, venules, capillaries)
           
- comes from the Greek  words "angio" (narrow /vessel) and "logos" (knowledge)

Arteries:
           
- blood vessels which carry blood from the heart to parts of the body
           
- from the left ventricle of the heart leads the aorta (the largest artery), which arches around and passes through the thorax (thoracal aorta) and abdomen (abdominal        aorta)
           
- arteries for the neck (head) and arms (carotid, vertebral, subclavian, axillar, brachial and antebrachial as well as hand arteries) originate from the aorta arch
           
- at the level of the belly-button, the aorta splits to pelvic arteries, which continue to leg arteries (inguinal, thigh, popliteal and below-knee as well as foot arteries)
           
- made up of three layers - inner (intimal): smooth surface allows blood flow; middle (muscular): provides strength and elasticity; and outer (adventitial): supports and feeds artery
           
- atherosclerosis: most common arterial disease which leads to formation of lipid plaques which thicken and calcify and reduce and eventually stop blood flow
           
- atherosclerosis of muscular layer which leads to weakening enlarging of the arteries (greater enlargement is aneurysm that could burst and bleed).
           
- the origin of atherosclerosis is unknown, and known risk factors are a high level of blood cholesterol, triglicerides and glucose, arterial hypertension, smoking and  obesity

- prevention of atherosclerosis: healthy diet rich in vitamins and minerals (fresh fruit and vegetables), fish, lean meat and low-fat dairy products, wholegrain cereals, keeping hydration and an active lifestyle.