arteriolo-, arteriol-

Small channels that are farther away from the heart than the larger vessels: The arteries that divide into smaller branches are called arterioles and because of the highly oxygenated state of the blood flowing through them, it has a bright red color.

Necrosis, or destruction, of arterioles; or the smallest divisions of the arteries located between the muscular arteries and the capillaries (smallest vessels which contain oxygenated blood).

1. Scarring of the kidney because of arteriolar sclerosis (hardening from inflammation and in diseases of the interstitial substance) resulting from chronic hypertension.
2. The destructive changes that occur in the blood vessels of the kidney as a result of severe hypertension (malignant hypertension or a severe form of acute hypertension that results in the abrupt rise in blood pressure).

Prolonged hypertension can result in renal failure.

Sclerosis, or hardening, and thickening of the walls of the smaller arteries (arterioles, the smallest divisions of the arteries located between the muscular arteries and the capillaries).