The lumen of the artery is at the top right corner, and the band of smooth muscle at the bottom is the atrophic media. The intima is enormously thickened, by the presence deep in it (centre and left) of amorphous material containing large numbers of cholesterol crystals (the unstained clefts). There are many foamy (lipid-filled) macrophages and chronic inflammatory cells in this zone and also in the thick layer of dense fibrous tissue layer (arrow) which separates it from the lumen.
Coronary artery atheromatous plaque: (HE) medium power
Media
This microscopic cross section of the aorta shows a large luminal atheroma. Cholesterol clefts are numerous in this atheroma. The surface shows intraplaque hemorrhage.
Aorta: atheromatous plaque with hemorrhage. (HE) low power
This high magnification of an atheroma shows numerous foam cells (arrows) and an occasional cholesterol cleft. A few dark blue inflammatory cells are scattered within the atheroma.
Atheromatous plaque. (HE) High power
Media