Atheroma formation. Animation showing the formation of an atheroma, a fatty plaque that forms on the inner walls of arteries in cardiovascular disease. Damage to the wall of the artery allows low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (yellow) to infiltrate it. The damage attracts macrophages (a type of white blood cell, white), which engulf the cholesterol, eventually becoming full. The macrophages also stimulate the production of collagen, causing the plaque to become more fibrous. Cholesterol also starts to accumulate outside of the macrophages and an atheroma has formed. In severe cases, the atheroma can block the artery and cause strokes, angina or heart attacks. Mastered from original, 15 fps.HD master is flattened onto a black background, as seen in this preview. The original file has a transparent alpha channel and is available as the HD master of clip K003 3735.