ather(o)-
An atheroma.
[Greek athērōma, from athērē, atharē, porridge or groats.]
Atheroma is a medical condition of the walls of the arteries caused by accumulated fatty deposits and scar tissue; it is so called because the fatty deposits are of a porridge-like consistency. The resulting disease is atherosclerosis, and the adjective is atheromatous; the surgical removal of an atheroma is atherectomy (Greek ektomē, excision).
Visit Michael Quinion’s World Wide Words site for 2000+ articles on English!
Copyright © Michael Quinion 2008–. All rights reserved. Page last updated 23 September 2008.
Your comments and suggestions on the site are very welcome.