Caption: Peripheral Vascular Disease
Text: Atherosclerotic occlusion of arterial vessels other than the coronary arteries or the arteries to the brain. This could include the aorta, the renal arteries (to the kidneys), the mesenteric blood vessels (to the intestines), or the blood vessels supplying the legs and feet. Interestingly, atherosclerosis does not occur in veins, nor does it occur in the arteries supplying the arms. Aalthough a rare condition called Buerger's Disease may cause constriction and thrombosis in the arteries to the fingers and toes, resulting in gangrene, but this appears to be due to a disease mechanism distinct from atherosclerosis.