Various diseases can affect vascular structures, altering their histology. For example, in atherosclerosis, the walls of arteries become thickened and narrowed due to the buildup of plaques, consisting of lipids, cholesterol, and cellular debris. In hypertension, the tunica media of arteries undergoes hypertrophy, leading to increased wall thickness. In diabetes, capillary basement membranes may thicken, impairing nutrient exchange.
