Calcification of the aortic wall

Calcification of the aortic wall in a Domestic European cat. Note the irregular profile and the dark parallel stripes in the aortic wall, almost reminiscent of the tracheal rings. These stripes correspond to calcification of the media and adventitial layers of the aortic wall, triggering inflammatory response in the adventitia. In turn, the calcification was most likely secondary to the severe renal insufficiency the animal was diagnosed with and which would have taken an ante mortem toll on blood supply to various organs and tissues.