Thoracic and upper abdominal aorta opened along posterior wall to reveal ostia of celiac, superior mesenteric and intercostal arteries. Note the atheromatous yellow streaks indicated by the arrows. This is probably a young person with such early changes.
Atherosclerosis gets progressively worse with increasing age.
Although the role of risk factors contributing to the pathogenesis is clear, the problem is that there are a few privileged individuals and experimental animals that are resistant when challenged by risk factors. A disease of Western civilization. Absent in certain third world ethnic groups. Major risk factors are high animal fat diets, hyperlipidemias, hypertension, cigarette smoking, and diabetes. Other important risk factors are obesity, male gender, family history, and physical inactivity.