4. Iliac and Leg Arteries
The iliac arteries as they leave the aorta and pelvis are prone to atherosclerosis as are the femoral arteries in the thighs and the popliteal arteries behind the knees. Obstruc¬tion in these arteries causes lack of circulation to the calf muscles. This lack of blood supply causes intermittent pain in the calf muscle during a brisk walk, and this condition is referred to as intermittent claudication. The Emperor Claudius limped because of a painful leg and, the word claudication is the derived from his name.
5. Other Arteries Rarely Affected
The renal arteries that supply the kidney with blood are fortunately only occasionally affected by atheroma. Why the arteries supplying the upper limbs, the liver, and lungs are spared and the spleen and the entire small and large intestine are rarely affected is intriguing. Little attention has been given to this disparity over the last 20 years. Pulmonary arteries are involved only when there is high pressure in the pulmonary circulation; thus turbulence caused by a change in blood pressure is of importance. Individuals with constant, long-term systolic blood pres¬sure in the normal range of 115–130 mmHg who show a change of 20 mmHg to reach borderline hypertensive l levels of 135–150 mmHg may be at risk for development of progressive atherosclerosis.

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