Hardening of the arteries?

• A. Arteriosclerosis
• B. Arteriorrhexis
• C. Arthralgia
• D. Arthritis

Answer: (A)

The term for hardening of the arteries is arteriosclerosis. It describes a process where arterial walls lose elasticity and become stiffer, sometimes with thickening, which can raise blood pressure and affect blood flow. The other terms point to different problems: arteriorrhexis means a rupture of an artery, arthralgia is joint pain, and arthritis is joint inflammation. A related but distinct condition is atherosclerosis, where plaque builds up inside the arteries; however, the question specifically refers to hardening, which is arteriosclerosis.