The pale yellow lipid streaks in the aorta are the earliest lesion of atherosclerosis.

The white arrow denotes the most prominent fatty streak in the photo, but there are other fatty streaks scattered over the aortic surface. Fatty streaks are the earliest lesions seen with atherosclerosis in arteries. Increased total cholesterol and decreased HDL cholesterol contribute to this process.

Three aortas are shown to demonstrate mild, moderate, and severe atherosclerosis from bottom to top.