ar·te·ri·o·scle·ro·sis 
(är-tîr′ē-ō-sklə-rōsĭs)
(är-tîr′ē-ō-sklə-rōsĭs)n.
Any of several chronic diseases, such as atherosclerosis, that are characterized by thickening and loss of elasticity of the walls of the arteries and that lead to impaired blood circulation.
ar·te′ri·o·scle·rotic (-rŏtĭk) adj.