The inner layer or lining of an artery, referring to the innermost tissues that contact blood flowing through the vessel.
From endo- (within) + arteria (artery, from Greek arteria meaning 'windpipe' or 'artery'). The term specifically designates the innermost structural component of arterial walls.
The endarteria is where damage happens first when cholesterol builds up or when blood pressure gets too high, making it the critical battle zone in cardiovascular disease even though it's only one cell layer thick.
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