Differential accumulation of calcium and phosphorus in aged human arteries.

To elucidate age-related changes of human arteries, relative contents (RCs) of minerals were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry on the thoracic aorta, basilar, coronary, femoral, and radial arteries from 27 subjects within the age range between 0 and 92 years old (Ys). Calcium and phosphorus never accumulated uniformly in any of the arteries such as the thoracic aorta, basilar, coronary, femoral, and radial arteries. The accumulations of calcium and phosphorus occurred earlier in the order of the femoral artery, thoracic aorta, coronary artery, and basilar or radial artery.