9th Annual WML Academic Symposium

Presenter(s): Rishi Kumar, Amanda Martini
Title: Bone Formation Within an Atherosclerotic Abdominal Aorta
Developed under the guidance of Dr. Adam Foster and Dr. Bonnie Brenseke , School of Osteopathic Medicine

Atherosclerosis is a disease involving inflammation and repair of vessels leading to hardening and plaque formation of vessels. During cadaveric dissection, we obtained a sample of an abnormally rigid, fragile abdominal aorta. Histological analysis showed calcified atherosclerosis and heterotopic ossification within the sampled abdominal aorta. A diagnosis of atherosclerosis was determined based upon histological findings of calcium and cholesterol clefts within the sampled abdominal aorta. Further analysis also suggests heterotopic ossification, which is unique to the process of bone marrow formation and trabecular bone and is not a typical histological finding in atherosclerosis of the aorta.