What is the definition of arteriosclerosis?

Death of cardiac tissue describes myocardial infarction or necrosis, which can be a consequence of arterial disease but is not the definition of arteriosclerosis itself.

Accumulation of plaque within arterial walls is the definition of atherosclerosis, a specific subtype of arteriosclerosis, not arteriosclerosis as a whole.

The term arteriosclerosis derives from the Greek 'arterio' (artery) and 'sclerosis' (hardening), and specifically describes the pathological stiffening of arterial walls due to structural changes such as calcification or fibrous thickening. This reduces arterial compliance and increases cardiovascular workload. It is a broad category that includes but is not limited to atherosclerotic plaque formation.

Widening of the arteries describes vasodilation or aneurysmal dilation, which is the opposite of the narrowing and rigidity characteristic of arteriosclerosis.