Fibrous cap
Encyclopedia
The fibrous cap is a layer of fibrous connective tissue
, which is thicker and less cellular than the normal intima. The fibrous cap contains macrophages and smooth muscle
cells.
The fibrous cap of an atheroma is composed of smooth muscle cells, macrophages, foam cells
, lymphocytes, collagen and elastin.
Connective tissue
"Connective tissue" is a fibrous tissue. It is one of the four traditional classes of tissues . Connective Tissue is found throughout the body.In fact the whole framework of the skeleton and the different specialized connective tissues from the crown of the head to the toes determine the form of...
, which is thicker and less cellular than the normal intima. The fibrous cap contains macrophages and smooth muscle
Smooth muscle
Smooth muscle is an involuntary non-striated muscle. It is divided into two sub-groups; the single-unit and multiunit smooth muscle. Within single-unit smooth muscle tissues, the autonomic nervous system innervates a single cell within a sheet or bundle and the action potential is propagated by...
cells.
The fibrous cap of an atheroma is composed of smooth muscle cells, macrophages, foam cells
Foam cells
Foam cells are cells in an atheroma derived from both macrophages and smooth muscle. In chronic hyperlipidemia, lipoproteins aggregate within the intima of blood vessels and become oxidized by the action of oxygen free radicals generated either by macrophages or endothelial cells...
, lymphocytes, collagen and elastin.