Plaque buildup inside the wall of a coronary artery results in what?

• A. An occlusion/ blockage causing disruption and narrowing (i.e. 80% occlusion of LAD)
• B. Increased elasticity of the vessel
• C. Dilation of the artery
• D. No change in vessel caliber

Answer: (A)

Plaque buildup in the wall of a coronary artery narrows the vessel’s lumen, reducing blood flow to the heart muscle. When the narrowing becomes significant, it can block flow entirely—an occlusion—leading to ischemia or infarction. This is why an 80% occlusion of a major artery like the LAD is a critical finding. Plaque makes the vessel stiffer and narrower rather than more elastic or wider, so there’s a real change in caliber toward constriction, not dilation or no change.