atheroma

noun

ath·​er·​o·​ma ˌa-thə-ˈrō-mə 

plural atheromas also atheromata ˌa-thə-ˈrō-mə-tə 

1

: an abnormal fatty deposit in an artery

2

dated : fatty degeneration of the inner coat of the arteries

atheromatous

ˌa-thə-ˈrō-mə-təs 

adjective

Examples of atheroma in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

His cause of death was determined as lethal cardiac arrhythmia via severe coronary atheroma and cardiomegaly. — Charmaine Patterson, Peoplemag, 16 Feb. 2023

Word History

Etymology

New Latin atheromat-, atheroma, from Latin, a tumor containing matter resembling gruel, from Greek athērōma, from athēra gruel

First Known Use

1842, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for atheroma

• ambystoma
• carcinoma
• coloboma
• granuloma
• haematoma
• hamartoma
• hemangioma
• hematoma
• hepatoma
• hybridoma
• melanoma
• myeloma

Medical Definition

atheroma

noun

ath·​er·​o·​ma ˌath-ə-ˈrō-mə 

plural atheromas also atheromata -mət-ə 

1

: an abnormal fatty deposit in an artery

Patients with large (>5 mm) or mobile aortic atheromas have an increase in the rate of perioperative stroke by a factor of 5 to 10 and are likely to have a significantly increased long-term risk of stroke.

—Mary E. Charlson and O. Wayne Isom, The New England Journal of Medicine

2

dated : fatty degeneration of the inner coat of the arteries

atheromatous

-ˈrō-mət-əs 

adjective