Which term means removal from within an artery (removal of plaque)?

• A. Encephalitis
• B. Efferent
• C. Endarterectomy
• D. Electrocardiogram

Answer: (C)

Removing plaque from inside an artery is described by the term endarterectomy. This word breaks down into end- meaning within or inner, arter- meaning artery, and -ectomy meaning surgical removal. So endarterectomy literally means removing material from inside an artery, which is exactly what the procedure does to restore blood flow when plaque narrows a vessel, often in the carotids to reduce stroke risk. Encephalitis is brain inflammation, not related to arteries. Efferent describes pathways that carry signals away from a center. An electrocardiogram records the heart’s electrical activity, not a surgical removal from a vessel.