[The hemodynamic effect on the spatial organization of atherosclerotic lesions in the human aorta. Plaques at the sites of arterial branching].

By means of light microscopy of whole-mounted membranous preparations and scanning electron microscopy differences of the three-dimensional organization in the macroscopically intact and atherosclerotic human aortic intima in the sites of intercostal artery ostium were investigated. It was shown that the process of atherogenesis begins in the lateral areas and later involves the site of the entry. The flow divider does not contain lipids and resembles fibrous cap of the plaque. Such differences in the three-dimensional organization are accounted for by the local hemodynamic properties.